Burning Man Attendees Stuck in 7-Hour Traffic Jam as Driving Ban Lifted

Attendees trying to leave the Burning Man festival in Nevada on Tuesday morning faced traffic jams of over 7 hours as organizers lifted a driving ban following heavy rainfall. On Monday, the festival website noted "Exodus wait times peaked at six to nine hours" in previous years as the driving ban was lifted. The annual counterculture festival in Black Rock City, Nevada typically draws around 80,000 people. Still, it has faced disruptions and cancellations in recent years due to weather like dust storms in 2018 and the COVID-19 pandemic. On Saturday, organizers told attendees to shelter in place amid torrential rains and flooding that saw over half an inch of rain at the site. One death was reported but was later said to be unrelated to the weather.