The entrance to the Burning Man counter-culture festival in the Nevada desert was closed and revellers were urged to shelter in place on Saturday as flooding from storms swept through the area.

The entrance will be closed for the remainder of the event, which began on August 27 and was scheduled to end on Monday, according to the US Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the Black Rock Desert where the festival is being held.

About six inches of rain is believed to have fallen on Friday at the festival site, located about 110 miles north of Reno, the National Weather Service in Reno said.

Another three inches of rain is expected from late Saturday into Sunday.

Organisers urged festivalgoers to conserve their food, water and fuel.