Burning Man attendees face wild weather
Las Vegas – Mother Nature has not been a friend of this year Burning Man festival -goers so far.
Since the ferocious the storms of the dust this weekend with high heat and humidity to the possibility of rain and flood in the coming days, this has been an eventful start for the annual event in the Black Rock desert in Nevada.
Strong dust storms and 50 mph wind gusts torn off Black Rock City on Saturday, ravages on campsites and causing major travel delays in the region. The National Weather Service published a storm of dust storm on Saturday evening, saying that “a wall of blowing dust” followed the north.
Four minor injuries were reported as a result of the wind and dust, a spokesman for Burning Man confirmed to NBC News.
Storms have scolded traffic like strong winds and low visibility forced those responsible to close the doors of Black Rock City. But for the participants who were already inside, the blowing dust crossed the Playa of the desert, overthrowing many campsites and dispersion of personal effects.
“If you are in Black Rock City, tire the chairs, take care of your camp and do not drive,” warned the official Burning Man account which follows the traffic conditions in and out of Black Rock City on Saturday on X.
“50 miles the time supported by the wind for more than an hour with higher gusts. The desert is still trying to kill you,” wrote a participant on Facebook, adding that it was “definitely the most frightening experience” at Burning Man.
We expect 70,000 people to go to Black Rock City for the festival, which takes place until September 1.
On Sunday, the first day of the festival, temperatures approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as humidity levels at around 57% for certain parts of northern Nevada. The National Weather Service published another dust notice that evening, providing for winds of 50 MPH and less than a visibility mile for certain parts of the Center of Nevada.
The rain and possible thunderstorms have again closed their doors in the doors in Black Rock City and stopped vehicle traffic.
“The journey time for cars currently on Gate Road is 7 hours once Gate opens,” wrote festival officials on Sunday evening on X.
Cleaning efforts are now underway, but wild weather is far from over.
Rain and possible thunderstorms on Monday and in the coming days could make risk conditions in the Black Rock desert. The dusty bed of the lake is sensitive to floods, and excessive rain can transform the Playa into muddy expanse.
In 2023, two days of heavy drawbacks blocked thousands of burning man participants in a thick mud in the desert. The festival -goers were invited to “shelter in place” and a death was reported by the Sheriff’s Bureau of Pershing.
