Burning Man closes gate due to storm

The gate for entering the Burning Man grounds in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert was closed Sunday after unusual summer rains from Tropical Storm Hilary caused muddy conditions. Festival organizers originally said the gate might open as early as noon Monday, but Monday morning, they pushed the time back to noon Tuesday.

“Do not drive to Gerlach, you will be turned around,” organizers said Monday.

Photographs posted on social media showed a muddy mess on the playa. One Facebook user commented that Burning Man was “MUD MAN 2023” this year.  

On Sunday, organizers said that it could take 12-plus hours “for the playa to dry, so please be patient.”

This year’s festival runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4, but many attendees go the week before to set up their camps.

The National Weather Service said the region has measured about three-tenths of an inch to a half-inch of rain in the past 24 hours as remnants from Tropical Storm Hilary have pushed into Nevada. 

“It’s not something we typically see,” said Justin Collins, a forecaster with the weather service’s Reno office. “All this rain all at once is pretty unusual in summer. You see it in winter more.”

More rain is in the forecast for Monday, as Collins said there’s a lot of moisture still in the atmosphere. “All these showers are going to push out today, and then overnight, there may be more rain,” he said. Collins said there’s a chance for showers until about 2 p.m. Tuesday before conditions clear. 

“The rest of the week, it looks like any chance for rain is pretty minimal,” he said, except for a slim chance of isolated showers Thursday.

With clouds over the region, afternoon highs Monday and Tuesday are expected to be in the mid-70s. Wednesday marks the start of a warming trend, and afternoon highs are expected to be in the mid-to-upper 80s Wednesday through Saturday, the weather service said.

The festival officially kicks off Sunday, when skies are forecast to be mostly clear and with the afternoon high near 90 degrees. As of Monday afternoon, conditions next week appear dry, Collins said, but the forecast is subject to change.

Considering going to Burning Man but don’t have a ticket? Tickets on the secondary market are plentiful this year, with many people trying to unload tickets.

This breaking news story has been updated.