Burning Man off to "chaotic" start as flood and dust storm warnings issued for 2025
Four people have been injured by extreme weather at the Black Rock City festival so far, with thunder, 50mph winds and more expected in the coming week
Intense weather spells have threatened the first few days of Burning Man, with dust storms, thunder, 50mph winds, and flood warnings all hitting this year’s event.
On Saturday, August 23 – just a day before Burning Man was set to begin for 2025 – thousands descended on Black Rock City in Nevada, creating hours-long traffic jams and miles of gridlock, as seen in videos circulating social media.
That evening, the National Weather Service issued warnings of high winds and a “wall of blowing dust” entering the area, and flooding in the Mammoth Lakes area close to the festival.
Read this next: Burning Man urges fans to help raise $20 million amidst financial struggles
On Sunday, the first official day of Burning Man 2025, the festival warned of lightning strikes and thunderstorms on an official update dashboard, before it was hit with rain.
Videos began to emerge online, showing intense dust storms hitting this year’s event. One person shared footage on Instagram of gusts blowing through the campsites, claiming: “Crazy winds demolished camps at Burning Man on Saturday, including ours.”
“2-3 days of 8-hour builds in the hot sun, all gone,” they said. “We also had some injuries from poles and things flying around in the wind.”
Read this next: Burning Man flooded leaving thousands stranded in mud
By Monday, Burning Man issued several more weather updates on Twitter, warning of thunderstorms and rainfall which were expected to hit the playa where the festival takes place that evening.
“It may or may not hit us, but we should prepare as if it will,” they said. “We have been through this drill on Sunday night and we are prepared for it again.”
A Burning Man spokesperson told NBC News that four minor injuries have been reported as a result of the wind and dust storms so far. The festival is expected to welcome 70,000 people this year, taking place until Monday, September 1.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter
