Juan Baigorri Velar

Juan Pedro Baigorri Velar (1891 in Concepción del Uruguay – 24 March 1972 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine engineer; known for his claims that he had invented a rain-making machine.

[1] He worked for several fuel companies, which involved trips to numerous countries, investigating soil composition and exploring for oil.

In 1929, he was invited by Enrique Mosconi to join the newly created YPF, a state-owned Argentine energy company.

The company manager proposed that he make it rain in Santiago del Estero Province, which was going through one of the worst droughts in its history.

He also received criticism from Alfredo Galmarini, head of the Meteorology Directorate, who called the machine a "parody" and didn't believe that Baigorri was serious.

In response, he promised to make it rain in Buenos Aires in three days, activated the machine, and sent an umbrella to Galmarini.

Eduardo Piacentini, of the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, declared that Baigorri's machine might be able to predict rain, but not cause it.