Wind, rain and chilly temps enter Burning Man weather forecast

Below-normal temperatures, high winds and light rain are all in the weekend weather forecast for the annual Burning Man festival due to an early season storm that’s poised to move into California and Nevada.

The National Weather Service’s Reno office is calling the system “anomalously cold” and issued a special weather statement on Wednesday for anyone with outdoor plans in western Nevada over the three-day Labor Day weekend: “Be sure that you are prepared for the cold, wet, and windy conditions.” The system is also expected to impact parts of Northern California.

Burning Man kicked off in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert on Aug. 27 and wraps up on Sept. 4. On Wednesday, the festival was in full swing with art cars and decorated bicycles cruising the Playa amid hot weather. The afternoon high Wednesday was forecast to reach the mid-80s. The baking heat won’t last for long. Afternoon highs Friday through Monday are forecast to be in the 70s. Overnight lows are expected to be in the 40s to 50s over the weekend. These temperatures aren’t extremely cold, but are below normal for the region at this time of year. 

“It will definitely be sweater 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 of up to 30 to 35 mph, said Dustin Norman, a forecaster with the weather service. 

“Usually at those wind speeds, depending on how dry the Playa is, it’s enough to loft some dust into the area,” said Norman. “On Friday, much of the stronger winds will be south of the Black Rock Desert.”

There’s a chance for light rain Thursday through Monday. The weather service predicts the Black Rock Desert could record up to two-tenths of an inch across four days. On Thursday night, the likelihood of rain is very slight, at only about a 10% chance.

Friday brings the highest chance of rain at 15% to 20% in the morning and 30% to 40% in the afternoon. 

“Looks like the best chance for rain will be Friday, that might limit some of the blowing dust,” Young said. “Actually, there might be some blowing mud.”

On Friday afternoon, there’s also about a 25% chance for thunderstorms. “The biggest threat this weekend is thunderstorms and the highest chance for them is Friday,” Norman said.

The chance for rain remains Saturday through Monday, but as of Wednesday it remained slight. 

Festival organizers urged attendees to anticipate strong winds and rain. “In the event of strong winds, participants are encouraged to batten down their camps,” organizers for the festival said in a statement, “to make sure valuables are secure and can’t blow away, and to help their neighbors.” In the event of rain, attendees should not not drive or ride their bicycles, organizers cautioned, and not operate any “generators or other electrically powered instruments that are standing in water.”