High winds and dust storms shake "Burning Man" 2025
- Editorial Staff
- Aug 27
- 1 min read

Burning Man 2025 in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert got off to a rocky start. On Saturday, August 23, winds exceeding 50 mph whipped up walls of dust, forcing organizers to temporarily close the gates and urging attendees to delay their arrival.
Videos on social media showed camps destroyed by the gusts. A festival spokesperson confirmed sustained winds over 45 mph and advised participants to secure their camps and limit travel. Despite the conditions, many attendees helped repair damaged sites.
By Monday, as gates reopened and flights resumed, wait times to enter via County Route 34 reached up to seven and a half hours. Forecasts predict more storms through Wednesday, with rain, hail, and dust-swirl winds. While rain could reduce dust, it could also create disruptions similar to 2023, when flooding stranded 70,000 people on-site.
This year’s tiered ticket system sparked controversy over transparency amid financial strain: the 2024 festival reported a $5.7 million shortfall.
Despite the chaos, Burning Man’s collaborative spirit remains strong, marking 2025 as one of Black Rock City’s most turbulent starts in recent history.




















