I don't know about the cloud seeding theory. Do we have the ability to do it? Yes to a degree. Did we actually do it? Highly improbable. Everything was there for this storm to be a monster. Most on the Gulf Coast were side eyeing it before it was even a numbered low-pressure system SE of the Yucatan. The gulf is absolutely boiling with the hottest temps on record in a century. Hot water temps make hurricanes blow up. Combined with a lack of shear winds to slow development it had everything it needed to grow large quick. It quickly exploded to be a monster. The only real question was where, and that really wasn't a question as the tracks were consistent and unified well before development. It hit right where everyone thought it would. Here is a text I sent a buddy when it was still down in the Yucatan gap.
And it did just that. Now most hurricanes hit land and arc back toward the Atlantic. Usually because a low pressure line will steer it away like the image below that Hurricane Michael did. The mountains also act as a barrier to steer storms.
Michael
Helene met a low-pressure cold front line right above the Appalachians. Unfortunately, there was also a line coming down from the NE off the Atlantic. This created a pocket like a catcher's mitt. The storm went north with nowhere to go until it hit the mountains. When the hot moisture-filled air hit the mountains and began to mix with the cold air it caused instant condensation. Helene expended all of her stored energy right there at that final blue-green dot.
So, do we have the ability to alter the intensity of weather, yeah. Do we have the ability to do it that well and put all the other pieces in place like converging low-pressure fronts, water temps, and shear winds to steer and hold it? Not even close. Is anyone down here shocked that FEMA is a shitshow, also, not even close.