Weather

Newsworthy News -  The American West is draining its water reserves at a pace that can’t be sustained — and a decades-old weather technology may be one of the most practical, cost-effective tools available to help slow that drain.

Cloud seeding — dispersing silver iodide into clouds to trigger rain or snow — costs as little as $5 to $10 per acre-foot of water produced, a fraction of what new reservoirs or desalination plants cost. A landmark 2020 study confirmed unambiguously that cloud seeding increases snowfall, giving the technology its strongest scientific validation to date.

The technique requires specific meteorological conditions, meaning it can supplement water supplies but cannot manufacture rain from a clear sky.  Western states facing a two-decade drought are already expanding cloud seeding programs as a low-risk, low-cost option while larger infrastructure solutions lag behind.