Even though the Burning Man festival takes place in the harsh desert, it still attracts nearly one hundred thousand attendees every year!

If you are also interested in this carnival, you are surely wondering, “What are the temperatures at Burning Man?” to prepare yourself for the trip. Read on for a full answer!
What Are The Temperatures At Burning Man?
So, what’s the weather at Burning Man like?
In fact, the weather is greatly unpredictable here. According to statistics, the average temperature here during the day will fall between 52 degrees to 88 degrees. However, the weather will suddenly turn cold after sunset.
Historical Burning Man Temperature Stats
As the duration and venue of the Burning Man vary each year, there are changes in the weather as well. To be more specific, the temperature during the carnival week in recent years normally increases due to climate change.
Let’s refer to the Black Rock city temperature data table during the Burning Man festival in 2015, which took place in 14 days from August 25 to September 07:
Day | High Temperature | Low Temperature |
25/08 | 89° | 53° |
26/08 | 89° | 55° |
27/08 | 89° | 53° |
28/08 | 89° | 54° |
29/08 | 89° | 54° |
30/08 | 89° | 54° |
31/08 | 88° | 53° |
01/09 | 87° | 53° |
02/09 | 88° | 53° |
03/09 | 88° | 52° |
04/09 | 88° | 52° |
05/09 | 86° | 53° |
06/09 | 86° | 52° |
07/09 | 85° | 50° |
Based on the above data table, we can see that temperature at the Burning Man in 2015 remained at a highest of over 80 and lowest of more than 50 degrees. Hence, you will have a chance to experience the dramatic temperature contrast between day and night.
The winds during the day will bring a feeling of hot and dry. In contrast, it is extremely cold at Burning Man at night; if there is an extra breeze, it will make you shiver!
Does Burning Man Get Cold At Night?
As mentioned above, there is dramatic contrast in the temperature between the daytime and nighttime – Extreme hot vs. extreme cold.
Let us tell you more details about the coldness at night time here. Burning Man is often held in the highlands in the middle of the desert (approximately 4,000 feet above sea level). Therefore, the temperature normally stays below 40 F.
We highly advise you to be well-equipped when attending this event and prepare yourself with all information about your destination.
To withstand the cold of the night at Burning Man, warm clothes, sleeping bags, tents, and other necessary cold items are dispensable on this trip.
How To Deal With This Temperature?
Living in the desert is extremely harsh, so it is essential to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to face the difficulties. If you want a good Burning Man experience, make sure you can deal with three issues. They are:
- Hot temperatures in daytime
- Cold temperatures at night
- Dust in all day long
If you still don’t know how to deal with them, let’s explore our tips in the content below!
For Hot Temperature
The temperature at Burning Man will rise gradually from sunrise to sunset. Under this sweltering heat, it’s best to arm yourself with some basic knowledge to deal with it. So, how to adapt to this temperature?
Preparing the right outfit is a top priority for you. Since the temperature is quite high, you will feel more comfortable wearing fewer clothes. Besides, please stay in the shade and refrain from exposing your skin when going out.
High-temperature sunlight that hits you directly can lead to skin burns, so please be careful. You can wear thin clothes, paint your body or use a wet towel. Those are the methods that can make you feel more comfortable under this heat.
For Cold Temperature
At night, Burning Man’s temperature drops very quickly. Similar to when the temperature is high, you should prepare suitable clothes for yourself.
Choose clothes with many layers to keep your body warm, bring an extra blanket, and walking shoes or boots to protect your feet. In addition, drinking warm water will make you much more comfortable in the cold of Burning Man.
If you like to have a stroll at night, this habit will help you a lot. Being active will make your body temperature higher, so you will feel much warmer. The closer it gets to midnight, the colder it gets around here.
That’s why before going to bed, you should find a way to block the wind and prepare a sleeping bag to keep warm.
For Dust
To be protected against dust, equipping yourself with goggles is a must. Please use sunglasses for the day and clear glasses for the night.
Moreover, you can consider choosing a dust mask. The mask has a compact design and good dust resistance. It is also recommended that you prepare at least two backups on your side if the worst-case situation occurs.
Do You Really Need An RV?
An RV will be an ideal tool to help you get a warm sleep. Consider using this machine if you’re not used to Burning Man’s nighttime climate. In case you are an adventurous person and like to train yourself, dismiss it!
Nevertheless, preparing carefully about clothes and sleeping places can help you overcome the harsh weather.
Some Last Words
Experiencing a week in the desert during the Burning Man event will bring you many interesting experiences. You must protect yourself by bringing proper items before participating in this festival due to its unpredictable weather.
Through this article, we hope you have enough information about the most important question, “What are the temperatures at Burning Man?“. Have a good day! Thank you for reading!
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