It’s no coincidence that the Burning Man festival in 2023 was walloped by a combination of disastrous weather extremes. Tens of thousands of disappointed attendees were left stranded, turning the famous event from Confetti City to possibly Chaos City. A significant rainstorm followed by an extreme dust storm rolled through the Black Rock Desert, leading to emergency shelter-in-place orders for Burning Man participants. The terrible weather made the conditions frightening for all participants. Tragically, it resulted in one known death and multiple injuries to the marchers.
As the festival continued, the venue’s site turned into a mud swamp, causing major travel disruptions and destroying festivalgoers’ campsites. Footage that was shared and circulated on social media vividly depicted the storm’s furious power. It painted a picture of swirling, dusty winds and tents being torn from their stakes. As a result, by Sunday afternoon the NWS had issued both a dust advisory and a wind advisory for the region. They forecasted high winds with gusts potentially exceeding 50 miles per hour, not to mention heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms.
As the dust storm raged, causing at least four minor injuries, it created a surreal atmosphere at BOO! This was compounded by reports of visibility dropping close to zero, making movement across the festival site extremely difficult. “Participants and staff were advised to batten down their camps and avoid driving during low visibility,” a spokesperson for the Burning Man Project stated.
Though the weekend was full of struggles, things were starting to get somewhat better by dawn on Monday. Burning Man organizers announced that the festival’s gates and airport reopened by 7:30 AM local time. They implored attendees to protect their buildings and assets. In addition to underlining the advice to keep your ears tuned to the weather as you make travel plans back to Black Rock City.
“Being ripped and torn down by the wind speeds even though we buttoned everything down as best as we could,” said an attendee reflecting on the tumultuous conditions.
The interruption from the brutal weather wouldn’t put a damper on recurring festival plans. As of publication time, organizers expect close to 70,000 people at the Burning Man festival in 2025—currently scheduled to go through September 1. This incident is a reminder of how quickly weather can turn at any large outdoor event. It serves as a reminder for the need of robust emergency protocols.