Declassified CIA Files Reveal Cold War Weather Modification Programs

During Johnson’s presidency, the U.S. did in fact pursue known weather modification programs.

One was Project Stormfury, a federal effort aimed at weakening hurricanes by flying aircraft into storm systems and seeding clouds with silver iodide in an attempt to disrupt storm structure.

Johnson even referenced efforts involving a hurricane near Florida in a letter included among the documents.

Another program, Project Popeye, became one of the most controversial weather modification efforts in U.S. history.