A powerful dust storm with sustained winds approaching 50 miles per hour swept across Nevada’s Black Rock Desert on Sunday, battering the opening of the Burning Man festival. Organizers said at least four people were injured as blowing sand reduced visibility to near zero and prompted officials to shut the entry gates to Black Rock City for several hours. The storm flattened tents, damaged vehicles and destroyed a large Ukrainian art installation. Burning Man’s volunteer-run airport halted private aircraft operations, and driving within the temporary city was banned while cleanup crews worked. Travelers already on Gate Road faced waits of up to seven hours before the gates reopened early Monday. The National Weather Service maintained dust and thunderstorm advisories for northern and central Nevada, cautioning that additional rain and lightning through mid-week could flood the playa. Organizers, who expect about 70,000 attendees this year, urged participants to secure camps and prepare for further weather-related disruptions, recalling similar chaos during 2023’s rain-soaked edition.