TikTok has been flooded with pictures and videos of Burning Man being utterly wrecked by fierce dust storms that are swirling at speeds of 45mph.
Burning Man, at least for people in the UK, is this gargantuan event that seems more like an odd Mad Max encampment than a music festival. It’s got a cult-like mystery about it, from the barter system to replace money, to the prevalence of nudity and public sex. Honestly, it sounds lit, if a little intimidating.
In truth, Burning Man was originally started as a bonfire ritual on the summer solstice – which admittedly doesn’t help the mysterious image – by Larry Harvey and Jerry James in 1986. It grew in notoriety and numbers each year, and nearly 50 years later, 80k people venture into the desert each year.
@earth_wanders Storms continue at Burning Man 2025 #foryou #foryoupage #trending #burningman #burningman2025
This year, the festival, which is held in the Black Rock Desert in Reno, Nevada, has been pummeled by a fierce dust storm that has injured multiple people. Videos have since made their way to TikTok and Twitter, and it looks utterly terrifying.
In one clip, which looked like something straight from Dune: Part Two, festival goers are gathered around the campsite as violent winds blow orange dust literally everywhere. Tents are blown to pieces, and even the iconic art pieces have been wrecked by the weather.
@prince.evian fighting for my life in the actual trenches
“We were expecting 35 mph winds according to the radar we were watching so we made sure everything was secure around our camp. Very quickly things turned for the worst, It became complete white out conditions,” one attendee told the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday. “We saw structures being ripped and torn down by the wind speeds even though we buttoned everything down as best as we could.”
@chefoyalicious Everything flew… #burningman #burningman2025 #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – Oyalicious
What did the Burning Man bosses say about the dust storm?
Despite the onslaught of what could be dangerous weather, Burning Man bosses have not ordered an evacuation or cancelled the festival. Instead, they’re said to be keeping an eye on the weather reports coming in.
@abc7newsbayarea Burning Man 2025 started Sunday, August 24, and thousands of “Burners” were met with a massive dust storm. Last year, attendance was down after the 2023 flooding and mud caused major problems. However, this year, they are expecting anywhere from 70,000 to 80,000 attendees. #burningman #burningman2025 #duststorm #storm
“Black Rock City 2025 is underway, and the communal effort and resilience of the Burning Man community is on full display. Participants are setting up camp and, due to Saturday evening’s dust and wind storms, are supporting others where repair work is needed for camps and art installations,” a spokesperson told The Mirror.
“Many weather alerts referenced in media coverage do/did not specifically apply to the Black Rock Desert. Specific to the Black Rock Desert and the evening of Saturday, August 23, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory.”
Though the festival is still going ahead, the gates were temporarily closed amidst Burning Man’s dust storms.
@outpump burning man isn’t just parties and lights. we got caught in a full sandstorm and couldn’t find our way back. 6 hours wandering. no signal. i really thought this was how it would end. luckily… we made it back to camp. never felt more grateful.
@OLY.B burningman burningman2025 blackrockcity brc sandstorm desert festival storytime fallout storm adventure viral
The spokesperson continued: “There were wind gusts over 45 mph for a sustained period of time. Participants and staff were advised to batten down their camps and avoid driving during low visibility. The Gate was temporarily closed, and normal operations resumed within two hours. Four minor injuries were reported as a result of the wind and dust.
“Burning Man participants and the public can monitor the BRC Dashboard for the latest weather and traffic updates for Black Rock City. The Burning Man Survival Guide, provided to all participants and available to the public, contains detailed information on preparedness and safety.”
If you thought going to the beach was bad, imagine the amount of sand in your house after Burning Man.
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Featured image credit: TikTok
