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

A powerful dust storm swept across Nevada's Black Rock Desert over the weekend, as thousands gathered for the annual week-long Burning Man festival.

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.