The final weekend of Burning Man in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert appears to be a flood disaster, with torrential rain turning the area into a giant mud bath.
The weather became so bad on Friday evening that all traffic to and from the site was stopped, while bicycles and strollers were banned from the huge campsite.
Organizers were forced to ban people from leaving the site as the slippery and muddy conditions made for dangerous driving conditions.
“Do not drive your vehicle. Don’t ride your bike, don’t push your bike around. Stay where you are. Secure structures and belongings in your camp,” a message on Twitter urged.
“All planned cremations for this evening (Friday, September 1) are postponed until further notice. Make yourself comfortable, don’t drive, don’t ride a bike, be safe! Shelter in place!’ added another.
The gate will remain closed and no one will be allowed to enter or leave by road or airport, Burning Man posted online.
Police and rangers moved to higher ground as Burning Man came to a halt during an unprecedented downpour Friday in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert
The Black Rock Desert is experiencing unprecedented rainfall during Burning Man 2023
On Friday evening, strongly worded tweets urged Burning Man visitors to sit down
Organizers even urged people to refrain from pushing or riding bikes, fearing the tires could cause deep ruts after the ground was softened by rain.
Burning Man organizers told participants to shelter in place and not operate generators or other electrically powered devices that sit in the water and cover electrical items.
“You are not allowed to drive your vehicle or ride a bike when it rains. Stay where you are. Make camp. Cover or secure electrical items. “Check on your roommates and neighbors to make sure they are prepared and help if needed,” another message said as the weather turned bad.
Driving was forbidden in Black Rock City as the terrible weather threatened to turn the desert floor into a muddy paste.
About one to two tenths of an inch of rain is expected, which may not seem like much, but even a small amount of rain can cause problems in the Black Rock Desert, which is usually bone dry.
The rain made the ground extremely slippery, and sticky mud stuck to bike tires and shoe treads, forcing participants to shuffle around.
“It’s just very slippery.” And you can’t drive there and it’s hard to maneuver through it and stuff like that. [The ground] Basically it just becomes like a paste. So yeah, certainly not ideal,” meteorologist Scott McGuire told SFGate.
Friday and Sunday are expected to be the wettest days of the festival and although rain will make the playa uncomfortable, flash flooding is not expected.
A status update on travel within Black Rock City is expected at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Temperatures are also expected to be significantly cooler than last year, with highs expected to top 70 over the weekend – significantly lower than the triple-digit temperatures seen during last year’s gathering.
A bright and colorful rainbow stands out against the gray sky in the Nevada desert
Shortly after Friday night’s downpours, a double rainbow was seen
There was a residency requirement for the event and no one was allowed to enter or leave the event
Some cars were stuck in the mud and the desert looked more like a lagoon
Traffic cones are reflected in the water that lies above the sandy desert plains
In nearby Gerlach, Nevada, hundreds of Burning Man visitors are currently stranded for the night
Driving is not permitted in Black Rock City as the weather threatens to turn the desert floor into paste
The weather complicated matters as more people flocked to the festival last weekend
Friday and Sunday are expected to be the wettest days of the festival
As absorption opportunities are low, conditions could worsen over the weekend
Those responsible for Burning Man urge caution, no matter how much rain ultimately falls
Heavy rains in the Black Rock Desert, where Burning Man is being held, have forced organizers to ban people from leaving the site as widespread mud created treacherous driving conditions
.The roads are so bad that it is virtually impossible to walk, and organizers have asked everyone to hide and stay in their camps
The event – a “rejection of corporatism and capitalism” – brought around 70,000 people to the Nevada desert for a range of hedonistic activities.
But the weather was not on visitors’ side as torrential rain last weekend flooded the area, causing significant delays for those wanting to enter.
Thousands flocked to Black Rock City – located in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert – for the legendary event that has been taking place for nearly 40 years.
The event has become a beacon for the Burners – the name for Black Rock City regulars – who look forward to the festivities all year long.
Despite its reputation, Burning Man organizers define the event not as a festival but as a “community and global cultural movement.”
While the Black Rock Desert rarely gets this much rain at once, last time Burning Man organizers were forced to close the gate for several days
Burning Man organizers are advising burners to shelter in place and not operate generators or other electrically powered devices that sit in the water and cover electrical items
A status update on travel within Black Rock City is expected at 10 a.m. Saturday morning
The National Weather Service report for the Black Rock region shows showers lasting intermittently through Sunday night and then dissipating through Monday
Visitors to “Stranded Burning Man” visit the two local bars in Gerlach, Nevada
Some people can be seen in the bar with their luggage because the organizers did not allow anyone to enter or leave the premises