Social media posts claim a rare tropical storm that hit the US state of California in August 2023 was manipulated, possibly using military weapons. But there is no evidence Hurricane Hilary was the result of such action, and scientists say no existing technologies can affect the intensity or path of such a cyclone.

"Is our weather being modified or is this 'climate change?'" says Matt Roeske, founder of the alternative health company Cultivate Elevate, in an August 19, 2023 Instagram video.

In the video, Roeske -- whom AFP has previously fact-checked for spreading misinformation -- shows patents and projects supposedly used for weather modification around the world.

Another post on Twitter, which is being rebranded as "X," says: "Is this weather manipulation by Haarp? Seems like they may be forcing this to accommodate the great reset."

The claim from CBKNEWS, an account AFP has also previously fact-checked, refers to HAARP, a former US military initiative now housed at the University of Alaska. The project conducts research on the ionosphere using a high-energy transmitter and has been the target of numerous conspiracy theories.

One X user commented that Hurricane Hilary moved "faster than originally forecast because of the HAARP blasts." Meanwhile, a YouTube video claimed Hilary was controlled by "geoengineering" and a Facebook user called the storm "weather warfare" and a "pretext to implement martial law."

The posts offer no evidence that Hilary, which at its peak...

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