Dust Storms Cause Major Traffic, Airport Closures at Burning Man Nevada

Burning Man 2025 in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, has faced significant disruptions from severe dust storms, high winds, and rain, causing chaotic conditions for festivalgoers. Winds gusted over 45 mph, demolishing campsites and large art installations, while dust storms drastically reduced visibility, prompting organizers to close gates and halt flights temporarily. Traffic jams formed, with delays up to eight hours reported on the main route into Black Rock City, exacerbated by the storm and ongoing precipitation forecasts. The Black Rock Municipal Airport, a key transport hub for private and charter flights, was closed due to the weather, grounding nearly 100 aircraft and limiting arrivals to emergency flights. Organizers and attendees have been urged to secure camps and delay arrivals when possible, while many worked to repair damage and assist others once conditions improved. Weather instability is expected to persist throughout much of the festival’s run, complicating logistics for the roughly 70,000 participants.