Overview

• By Thursday evening, vehicles were moving with roughly 15‑minute waits into Black Rock City as gate operations normalized after earlier shutdowns.
• The National Weather Service forecast a warmer, drier pattern through the weekend with typical afternoon breezes and only isolated buildups over higher terrain.
• Severe dust and thunderstorms earlier in the week forced repeated gate closures, halted flights, and even shut Nevada State Route 447, with officials warning the playa was too wet to drive.
• High winds destroyed the Orgy Dome and the Ukrainian-built 50‑foot Black Cloud installation, while dome organizers work on a smaller provisional setup that may open briefly if conditions allow.
• Organizers reported multiple weather-related injuries, including at least four minor cases and an electrocution that prompted an airlift, as roughly 70,000 attendees are expected to remain through Sept. 1.