CULTURE

Attendees could be in for thunderstorms, dust and hail at this year's Burning Man

August 26th, 2025

People descending on the Nevada desert for this year's Burning Man event are being met with dust and wind, which could continue over the next few days.

The event started Sunday in the Black Rock Desert, about 100 miles north of Reno, Nev. It is "not a festival," but a "global cultural movement where people come together to create, innovate, and share stories," according to the Burning Man Project, the nonprofit responsible for the affair. The organization did not respond to requests for comment.

From Monday to Wednesday, there is between a 30% and 60% chance of precipitation in the Reno area, but the storms haven't started pushing toward Black Rock yet, GiGi Giralte, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told NPR.

Burning Man organizers say about 80,000 people show up to their event each year. Some videos on social media since Sunday have shown attendees battling high winds, with particles of dust clouding their camera lenses.

"The main concern with some of these storms, at least today, will be that they are relatively slow-moving storms, and so they will be able to produce more rain than if they were moving relatively quickly," Giralte said.

The weather could also bring forth small hail and kick up dust.

Buffalo Jeans - 15% Off First Order

However, the forecasted amounts of rain and moisture can help.

"It's a very fine material up there," Giralte said. "And so it's very easy for that to get elevated with any wind. If they are a little damp up there, and they've got some showers yesterday, that will reduce how much dust is possible to get lofted into the air."

The area will begin to dry up starting Thursday, giving eventgoers a few days of relief until Burning Man ends next Monday.

In 2023, it took people about seven hours to travel along the 5-mile route out of the desert, as the road had become extremely muddy after heavy rains.

But these weather conditions are pretty normal for Black Rock this time of year, which is monsoon season. In nearby Gerlach, temperatures reach an average high of about 94 degrees this time of year, and an average low of about 60, the National Weather Service said.

Giralte encourages Burning Man attendees to keep an eye on the forecast and have a plan to respond to hazardous conditions, such as sheltering in the car.

Suggested Reading

This Is Burning Man: The Rise of a New American Underground

This Is Burning Man: The Rise of a New American Underground by Brian Doherty is a comprehensive and immersive cultural history of the iconic Burning Man festival, tracing its evolution from a spontaneous ritual among a small group of San Francisco friends to a massive annual gathering that draws ten...

Radical Ritual: How Burning Man Changed the World

Radical Ritual: How Burning Man Changed the World by Neil Shister is a captivating exploration of the annual Burning Man festival, presented through the lens of a seasoned journalist, cultural scholar, and six-time participant who argues that this event is not merely a countercultural spectacle but ...

Built to Burn: Tales of the Desert Carnies of Burning Man

Built to Burn: Tales of the Desert Carnies of Burning Man by Tony "Coyote" Perez is a rollicking memoir that immerses readers in the raw, unpolished origins of the iconic festival, focusing on the author's transformation from a jaded San Francisco blues musician to a pivotal figure in constructing B...

The Scene That Became Cities: What Burning Man Philosophy Can Teach Us about Building Better Communities

The Scene That Became Cities: What Burning Man Philosophy Can Teach Us about Building Better Communities by Benjamin Wachs, writing under the pseudonym Caveat Magister, is a thoughtful and irreverent exploration of the Burning Man phenomenon, tracing its evolution from a small gathering of two famil...

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.