Burning Man Festival: Storms Turn Dust-Bowl into Muddy Fields

news image
Special Stories
5 Sep 2023 2:21 AM

The one-of-a-kind "Burning Man Festival" in Nevada took a sour turn this weekend as heavy rain created a muddy, cakey mess in the northwest part of the state! After many were stranded due to muddy roadways and impassable travel.

The latest update from festival officials on Monday afternoon is that the driving ban has been lifted. As of Monday evening, it was taking vehicles roughly 7+ hours to leave the site.

Burning Man happens in what is known as the Black Rock Desert; a dry landscape doesn't cope well with even a small amount of rainfall. About an inch of rain fell Friday night into Saturday. On Saturday, attendees were told to conserve resources and to shelter in place as the desert turned to a field of mud. According to news reports, the local sheriff's department closed the road leading into and out of the festival area, with only emergency vehicles allowed to pass.

Over the weekend, Las Vegas was under flash flood warnings with fast-flowing rivers of muddy water on top of dry roads.

It wasn't just Nevada that was hit hard with flooding. Parts of San Bernadino County in California also experienced heavy rainfall from monsoonal thunderstorms, leading to road closures. Recent rainfall from Tropical Storm Hilary has saturated the soils in the Southwest making them more susceptible to flash flooding.

All Weather News
More
Major Snow Maker Aims at the Carolinas & Mid-Atlantic

Major Snow Maker Aims at the Carolinas & Mid-Atlantic

A strengthening coastal low is expected to br

30 Jan 2026 3:10 AM
Cold Alerts Issued as 200K+ Customers Remain Without Power

Cold Alerts Issued as 200K+ Customers Remain Without Power

While it's now been several days since the wi

30 Jan 2026 3:10 AM
Lake-Effect Snow Continues, Shifts Toward Chicago This Weekend

Lake-Effect Snow Continues, Shifts Toward Chicago This Weekend

Persistent bursts of cold air have continued

30 Jan 2026 3:05 AM
Rain Finally Makes a Return to the Northwest

Rain Finally Makes a Return to the Northwest

Earlier this week, Seattle recorded 2 straigh

30 Jan 2026 3:05 AM
Gulf-Effect Snow Possible This Weekend

Gulf-Effect Snow Possible This Weekend

You've been warned, iguanas. We've had glanci

30 Jan 2026 2:30 AM
Thousands Without Power as another Systems Brews

Thousands Without Power as another Systems Brews

ABOVE - Up to one inch of ice accumulated acr

29 Jan 2026 12:30 PM
Cold Air Sticks Around the Central to Eastern U.S.

Cold Air Sticks Around the Central to Eastern U.S.

Temperatures have been record-breaking with h

29 Jan 2026 2:50 AM