US Ski Resorts Turn to Drones to Make It Snow Amid Dire Drought

Cloud seeding technology is being used to boost snowpack and water levels in the American West

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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As the American West faces severe drought conditions, ski resorts and state agencies are increasingly turning to cloud seeding technology to boost snowpack and water levels. Companies like Rainmaker Technology Corp. are using fleets of drones to spray silver iodide into clouds, which can help trigger snowfall. While the technology shows promise, some scientists remain skeptical about its long-term effectiveness and ability to significantly increase precipitation. Ski resorts like Winter Park in Colorado have embraced cloud seeding, crediting the technique with providing crucial additional snowfall during the critical holiday season.

Why it matters

The American West is facing dire drought conditions that are threatening the $6 billion U.S. ski industry, as well as water supplies for agriculture, firefighting, and other crucial uses. Cloud seeding offers a potential solution to boost snowpack and water levels, but the long-term efficacy of the technology remains uncertain. As climate change exacerbates water scarcity, ski resorts and state agencies are increasingly turning to cloud seeding as a way to adapt and maintain their operations.

The details

Companies like Rainmaker Technology Corp. are using fleets of drones to spray silver iodide into clouds, which can help trigger snowfall. Rainmaker has contracts with the state of Utah as well as some ski resorts, and is expanding its cloud seeding operations across the American West. Meanwhile, Winter Park Resort in Colorado has been using a ground-based cloud seeding system for years, crediting the technology with providing crucial additional snowfall during the critical holiday season. However, some scientists remain skeptical about the long-term effectiveness of cloud seeding, noting the complex and unpredictable nature of storms.

  • On December 28, Winter Park's cloud seeding efforts conjured 12 inches of snow, triple what fell on Vail.
  • In 2023, the Winter Park generators burned for the equivalent of five straight days, planting an estimated 24 inches of powder on the slopes that wouldn't have been there otherwise.

The players

Winter Park Resort

A ski resort in Colorado that has been using a ground-based cloud seeding system for years to boost snowpack.

Rainmaker Technology Corp.

A startup that is now the lead cloud seeding contractor for Utah, which has built one of the most aggressive cloud seeding programs in the American West.

Katja Friedrich

An atmospheric science professor at the University of Colorado who has cast doubt on the long-term effectiveness of cloud seeding.

Frank McDonough

A research scientist at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), which runs cloud-seeding operations all over the West, including the program at Winter Park.

Augustus Doricko

The 25-year-old founder of Rainmaker Technology Corp. who manages a crew of 120 people working to make it snow on mountains.

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What they’re saying

“The application is so far ahead of what the science actually shows. Usually, it's the other way around.”

— Katja Friedrich, Atmospheric science professor, University of Colorado

“Anything we can do to increase water levels is going to be well worth the funding.”

— Jonathan Jennings, Meteorologist, Utah Department of Natural Resources

“Our fundamental research on now at Rainmaker is all about what kitchen sink of sensors can we throw at this problem to actually validate' our work.”

— Augustus Doricko, Founder, Rainmaker Technology Corp.

What’s next

Colorado officials are working to replace decades-old, ground-based seeding machines with ones that can be switched on remotely, allowing for more remote and higher-elevation cloud seeding operations.

The takeaway

As the American West faces severe drought, ski resorts and state agencies are increasingly turning to cloud seeding technology as a potential solution to boost snowpack and water levels. However, the long-term effectiveness of cloud seeding remains uncertain, with some scientists skeptical about its ability to significantly increase precipitation. As climate change exacerbates water scarcity, the ski industry and other stakeholders are desperate for new ways to adapt, making cloud seeding an attractive, if unproven, option.