Anthony Yates
The annual Burning Man Festival started over the weekend in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. However, Mother Nature seemed eager to spoil the occasion, enveloping the area in a vicious dust storm.
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Burning Man occurs annually at Black Rock City in Nevada. Event organizers define the area as a “temporary metropolis” and the Burning Man Project’s “signature annual gathering.” The organization describes the event as a “central hub of a global arts and cultural network.” However, the occasion is making waves on social media for a different reason.
According to a report by SFGate, an intense dust storm swept over the venue on Saturday. Instagram user Henry Wu posted a video of the storm with the caption “Burning Man 2025 off to a great start!”
Wu explains that severe winds have demolished several camps at the gathering, including his. “2-3 days of 8-hour build days in the hot sun all gone,” he despaired. The post also reveals that there have been some injuries owing to “poles and things flying around in the wind.”
The short clip shows wild scenes of people running in the sandstorm, trying to help each other despite the poor visibility. Wu also briefly shows the aftermath, with cloth structures and debris scattered all over the area.
Burning Man Attendees Endured 50 MPH Winds
Per SFGate, 50mph winds battered the settlement, damaging camps and reportedly destroying at least one work of art. A Burning Man spokesperson told the outlet that the event was temporarily closed following the storm. “There were wind gusts over 45 mph for a sustained period of time. Participants and staff were advised to batten down their camps and avoid driving during low visibility,” the spokesperson explained. Event organizers noted that four people sustained mild injuries.
Burning Man Traffic on X has posted several updates as the inclement weather has caused havoc with travel to and from the venue. “If you’re in Reno, stay put. Traffic is being stopped in Wadsworth, and you will be turned around,” their last post reads. The account also notes that BRC Airport is closed.
Some commenters on social media wish guests well, but others are less kind. One popular reply with over 13k likes reads, “Nothing like Mother Nature fighting back after the mounds of trash left behind!”
