Project Cumulus

Project Cumulus was a secret project devised by the United Kingdom in the summer of 1952 to massively increase rainfall to bog down potential enemies. Scientists seeded clouds with particles of salt, dry ice, or silver iodide, either dropped by plane or shot from the ground. That summer the area of North Devon experienced 250 times the normal August rainfall. Then the great Lynmouth Flood occurred on August 16, 1952; more than 9 inches of rain fell in under 24 hours. The East Lyn River overflowed, causing 90 million tonnes of water to flow into the town of Lynmouth, uprooting trees, carrying great boulders and destroying whole buildings. Thirty-five people died, and the government rushed to mothball Project Cumulus.