FILE: A rainbow covers Black Rock City in 2007.
Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Below-average temperatures, strong winds and light rain are in the weather forecast for this weekend’s annual Burning Man festival, as an early-season storm threatens to spread to California and Nevada.
Calling the system “unusually cold,” the National Weather Service’s Reno office issued a special weather statement Wednesday for anyone making outdoor plans in western Nevada over the three-day Labor Day weekend: “Make sure you’re on “Be prepared for the cold.” wet and windy conditions. The system is also expected to affect parts of Northern California.
Burning Man began on August 27th in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada and ends on September 4th. On Wednesday the festival was in full swing, with art cars and decorated bikes racing across the playa in the hot weather. Wednesday’s afternoon high should reach the mid-80s. The baking heat will not last long. Afternoon highs Friday through Monday are expected to be in the 70s. Overnight lows are expected to be in the 40s to 50s over the weekend. These temperatures are not extremely cold, but are below normal for the region this time of year.
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“It’s definitely going to be sweaty weather for the burners out there,” said Amanda Young, a meteorologist with the weather service.
Windy conditions are forecast for Thursday and Friday; The strongest winds are likely Thursday afternoon and evening, with sustained winds of 20 mph and isolated gusts up to 30 to 35 mph, said Dustin Norman, a meteorologist with the weather service.
“Usually at these wind speeds, depending on how dry the playa is, it’s enough to blow some dust into the area,” Norman said. “On Friday, most of the stronger winds will be south of the Black Rock Desert.”
FILE: A huge dust storm spreads across Black Rock City during Burning Man.
Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
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There is a chance of light rain from Thursday to Monday. The weather service predicts the Black Rock Desert could measure up to two-tenths of an inch within four days. The chance of rain on Thursday night is very low, with a chance of only about 10%.
The chance of rain will be highest on Friday at 15 to 20% in the morning and 30 to 40% in the afternoon.
“Looks like the best chance for rain is Friday, so that could limit some dust,” Young said. “Actually, there might be some mud blowing.”
The chance of thunderstorms is also around 25% on Friday afternoon. “The biggest threat this weekend is thunderstorms, and the biggest chance of that is Friday,” Norman said.
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The chance of rain will remain Saturday through Monday, but remained low as of Wednesday.
Festival organizers told attendees to expect strong winds and rain. “During high winds, participants are encouraged to seal their camps,” said a statement from the festival organizers, “to ensure that valuables are safe and cannot be blown away, and to help their neighbors.” In the event of rain, they should Participants should not drive cars or bikes, organizers warned, nor should they operate “generators or other electrically powered devices that are in the water.”