Blinding dust storms, thunderstorms and high winds greet the thousands descending on the Nevada desert for the annual Burning Man festival

The popular festival is facing uncertain weather yet again, with many reporting sitting in hours of traffic only to be met with dusty winds and storms.

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.