Dust Storms, Heat, Thunder: Burning Man Attendees Face Wild Weather

LAS VEGAS — Mother Nature has not been a friend to this year’s Burning Man festivalgoers truthful far.

From this weekend’s ferocious particulate storms to precocious power and humidity to nan anticipation of rainfall and flooding successful nan coming days, it has been an eventful commencement to nan yearly arena successful Nevada's Black Rock Desert.

Strong particulate storms and 50 mph upwind gusts ripped done Black Rock City connected Saturday, wreaking havoc connected campsites and causing awesome recreation delays successful nan area. The National Weather Service issued a particulate large wind advisory Saturday evening, saying that “a wall of blowing dust” was search northward.

Four insignificant injuries were reported arsenic a consequence of nan upwind and dust, a Burning Man spokesperson confirmed to NBC News.

The storms snarled postulation arsenic precocious winds and debased visibility forced officials to adjacent nan gates into Black Rock City. But for attendees who were already inside, nan blowing particulate whipped crossed nan godforsaken playa, overturning galore campsites and scattering belongings.

“If you are successful Black Rock City, batten down nan hatches, return attraction of your camp, and do not drive,” nan charismatic Burning Man relationship that tracks postulation conditions into and retired of Black Rock City warned Saturday connected X.

“50 mile an hr sustained upwind for complete an hr pinch higher gusts. The godforsaken is ever trying to termination you,” 1 attendee wrote connected Facebook, adding that it was “definitely nan scariest experience” astatine Burning Man.

An estimated 70,000 group are expected to recreation to Black Rock City for nan festival, which runs done Sept. 1.

On Sunday, nan festival’s first day, temperatures neared 100 degrees Fahrenheit, together pinch humidity levels astatine astir 57% for parts of bluish Nevada. The National Weather Service issued different particulate advisory that evening, forecasting 50 mph winds and little than 1 mile of visibility for parts of cardinal Nevada.

Rain and imaginable thunderstorms again temporarily shuttered nan gates into Black Rock City and halted conveyance traffic.

“Travel clip for cars presently connected Gate Road is 7 hours erstwhile Gate opens,” show officials wrote Sunday nighttime connected X.

Cleanup efforts are now underway, but nan chaotic upwind is acold from over.

Rain and imaginable thunderstorms Monday and complete nan adjacent fewer days could make for dicey conditions successful Black Rock Desert. The dusty reservoir furniture is susceptible to flooding, and excessive rainfall tin move nan playa into a muddy expanse.

In 2023, 2 days of dense downpours stranded thousands of Burning Man attendees successful heavy mud successful nan desert. Festivalgoers were told to “shelter successful place,” and 1 decease was reported by nan Pershing County Sheriff’s Office.