Weather modification operations resume after suspension following July 4 floods
Editor's Note: The above video is a Q&A that aired on July 22, 2025.
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Following the July 4 Central Texas floods, speculation rose around Texas cloud seeding efforts, with some theorizing weather modification contributed to, and even caused, the floods.
In a meeting Monday, the Weather Modification Advisory Committee of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) heard from field meteorologists’ on ongoing weather modification activities in Texas in 2024 and 2025.
The committee heard from three meteorologists on behalf of five organizations regarding each organization's operations in the months surrounding the floods and suspensions.
Bria DeCarlo, a meteorologist with the South Texas Weather Modification Association (STWMA) noted that in the 2024 seeding season, STWMA executed 66 flights seeding 122 clouds and observing an increase of 400,000 acre-feet of water production over the STWMA target area. The 2025 season began with a below-average total of 29 flights before operations were suspended on July 2.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines seeding flights as the release of chemicals in the atmosphere by way of aircraft to cause water in the atmosphere to condense or freeze on the chemicals, becoming dense enough to produce rain.
Meteorologist Corey Clay with Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD) noted that in the 2024 season they had 38 seeding flights, making it one of their busiest years since their establishment 15 years ago. In 2025, PGCD has had 33 seeding flights, but also faced suspension after July 4.
Todd Flanagan a meteorologist for Trans-Pecos Weather Modification Association and West Texas Weather Modification Association observed active weather seasons for both organizations. In 2024, West Texas had 24 days of seeding operations, in 2025 there have been 28 days of seeding operations despite the suspension period. As for Trans-Pecos, in 2024 they had 14 days of seeding operations, and in 2025 they have had 31 days of seeding operations.
Seeding season is nearing its end with many organizations in their last week of operations.