A viral post on X claims that storms moving eastward in the Gulf of Mexico is proof the U.S. government uses technology to manipulate weather patterns.

I grew up on the Gulf of Mexico. Been watching storms since I was a young boy. I have NEVER seen a storm start here and go east.

Do you think Gov’t is using technology to manipulate weather patterns & storms? pic.twitter.com/OIr3UughRZ

— Grant Cardone (@GrantCardone) October 6, 2024

Verdict: False

Multiple storms have historically formed in the Gulf of Mexico and naturally moved eastward, guided by well-documented atmospheric conditions.

Fact Check:

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall south of Tampa, Florida, late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to The Associated Press. The storm has fluctuated between category four and five status as it approaches, the outlet reported.

The X post implies that eastward-moving storms originating in the Gulf of Mexico are extremely rare or somehow unnatural, fueling speculation of government interference. “I have NEVER seen a storm start here and go east,” the post claims. “Do you think Gov’t is using technology to manipulate weather patterns & storms?”

However, recent and historical data from NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) directly contradict this notion. For example, Tropical Storm Mindy in 2021 formed in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and quickly moved eastward across Florida. Similarly, Tropical Storm Emily in 2017 followed an eastward path after developing in the Gulf.

Hurricanes outside of the gulf can move from west to east, but this is a rare occurrence. The most notable example of this movement is Hurricane Lenny in 1999. (RELATED: Will Hurricane Milton Be A Category 6 Hurricane?)

According to a report made by the Florida Climate Center, the Bermuda High, a high-pressure system often located over the Atlantic Ocean, plays a significant role in steering storms originating in the Gulf of Mexico. When the Bermuda High extends westward, it can direct storms east or northeastward across Florida and the southeastern U.S. This natural phenomenon is well understood in meteorology and has been documented over decades of hurricane tracking. Additionally, upper-level winds in the region frequently guide storms on a similar eastward trajectory as they interact with low-pressure systems in the eastern U.S.​

This is not the first time weather-related claims have been misrepresented online. For instance, Check Your Fact previously debunked a viral post that falsely claimed to show footage of Hurricane Helene, when in reality, the video was from a different storm entirely.