"There were wind gusts over 45 mph for a sustained period of time," a Burning Man project spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement to SFGATE. "Participants and staff were advised to batten down their camps and avoid driving during low visibility."

Burning Man attendees faced the threat of dust storms and heavy rain as the festival opened, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing weather alerts for northern and central Nevada. Burning Man is a week-long festival set in the desert, where attendees create art, music and culture.