Nuke map and nuclear bomb simulator showing blast radius rings and a fallout plume over a city

Free interactive tool

Nuke Map & Nuclear Bomb Simulator: See the Blast Radius and Fallout

Fallout Arrives On A Clock. Know Yours.

Use our free nuke map to see the blast radius, thermal effects, radiation and fallout of a nuclear detonation.

This nuclear bomb simulator models the potential impacts so you can make informed decisions for your safety and preparedness.

  • Free to use
  • No account required
  • Built with public scientific data

This is an educational modeling tool based on publicly available data. Results are estimates and are not a forecast of any specific event.

PDF guide

Nuclear Blast & Fallout Simulator guide

How to configure a scenario, read each effect zone, and explain the result responsibly.

  1. Choose ground zero
  2. Select the weapon yield and burst type
  3. Set wind and fallout options
  4. Run the scenario and control the map
  5. Read the prompt-effect zones
  6. Open a result card for plain-language meaning
  7. Read the illustrative fallout plume
  8. Share the scenario and explain its limits
Download the guide

PDF · 10 pages · 1.5 MB

Understand the effects

A nuclear detonation creates multiple hazards

A nuclear explosion releases energy in the form of a fireball, blast wave, thermal radiation, prompt radiation and, if near the ground, radioactive fallout. Each hazard affects people and infrastructure differently.

Nuclear fireball and mushroom cloud rising over a city skyline

Fireball

An extremely hot, rapidly expanding gas sphere. Inside the fireball, temperatures can reach millions of degrees, vaporizing almost everything.

The simulator draws the modeled maximum fireball envelope.

Simulator shows: Estimated fireball radius.

Nuclear Bomb Blast Radius by Yield

Compare how effects change with different weapon yields.

Distances are examples and may vary based on detonation height, terrain and weather.

10 kilotons (kT)

Similar to the Hiroshima bomb

Nuclear bomb blast radius rings for a 10 kilotons (kT) explosion
Fireball radius 0.3 km
Severe blast damage 1.1 km
Radiation radius (500 rem) 1.2 km
Moderate blast damage 2.0 km
Thermal radiation 3.3 km
Light blast damage 5.0 km

100 kilotons (kT)

Larger, regional impact

Nuclear bomb blast radius rings for a 100 kilotons (kT) explosion
Fireball radius 0.8 km
Severe blast damage 2.1 km
Radiation radius (500 rem) 1.8 km
Moderate blast damage 4.3 km
Thermal radiation 6.8 km
Light blast damage 10.4 km

1 megaton (MT)

Significant, wide-area impact

Nuclear bomb blast radius rings for a 1 megaton (MT) explosion
Fireball radius 2.2 km
Severe blast damage 4.7 km
Radiation radius (500 rem) 2.8 km
Moderate blast damage 9.7 km
Thermal radiation 15.4 km
Light blast damage 24.1 km

How Fallout Spreads: Reading the Nuclear Fallout Map

If the explosion occurs at or near the ground, large amounts of soil and debris are pulled into the fireball, become radioactive, and fall back to earth as fallout. Fallout can arrive minutes to hours after the blast and pose a serious health risk downwind.

Explore the Nuclear Attack Map
Diagram of a fallout plume carried downwind from ground zero, from heavy to light fallout

Minutes – 1 hour

Heaviest fallout near ground zero

1–24 hours

Fallout arrives downwind

Days

Lower levels, can travel long distances

How to use the nuke map

1Choose a location
Nuke map location search with a pin placed on a city map

Click anywhere on the map, search a city, ZIP code or address, or paste coordinates.

2Set the scenario
Simulator settings panel for choosing weapon yield, burst type and wind

Choose a weapon preset or custom yield, airburst or surface burst, then set wind and fallout options.

3Run the simulation
Simulation map showing blast effect rings around ground zero

Effect zones appear around the pin. Toggle individual layers and switch between US and metric units.

4Explore the results
Results panel listing estimated effect distances for the selected scenario

Open a result card to see the approximate distance, what it means, and general protective context.

Family reviewing a gas mask and emergency preparedness kit at home

Are you prepared?

A nuclear emergency can happen without warning.
Make sure your household is ready.

  • Shelter location identified
  • Radiation detection equipment
  • Emergency water and food
  • Protective clothing
  • Battery / hand-crank radio
  • Decontamination supplies
  • Respiratory protection
  • Plan for children and pets
  • Appropriate filtration
  • Family communication plan
Build your preparedness plan

What Protects You From Fallout

A nuclear emergency can happen without warning. Having the right equipment and plan can make a difference for you and your family.

Build your preparedness plan
Closeup of CM-6M tactical gas mask

Breathe

Respiratory Protection

Help reduce inhalation of hazardous airborne particles.

Shop gas masks
Closeup of NBC-77 SOF CBRN gas mask filter canister

Filter

CBRN Filtration

Your respirator is only as capable as its filter.

Shop filters
MIRA Safety® CBRN Decontamination Wipe Powered by DeconDust™

Decontaminate

Decon & Complete Kits

Contamination can travel with you. Plan for it.

Shop kits

Common Questions

What does the Nuclear Simulator show?

It models the potential effects of a nuclear detonation: the fireball, thermal radiation, prompt radiation (500 rem), heavy, moderate and light blast damage (20, 5 and 1 psi), plus flash and sound awareness layers. For surface bursts it can add an illustrative fallout plume. You choose ground zero, a weapon preset or custom yield, burst type, wind speed and direction, and the fission fraction.

Can I simulate my own city?

Yes. Click any point on the map worldwide, search for a city, ZIP code or street address, or paste latitude and longitude.

What do the fallout plume colors mean?

Each band is an illustrative H+1 dose rate, the normalized rate one hour after detonation: 1 rad/hr is elevated, 10 rad/hr is dangerous, 100 rad/hr is extreme, and 1,000 rad/hr is immediately life-threatening. The moving particles show direction, not the live position or concentration of a cloud.

Can I share a scenario?

Yes. After choosing ground zero, select Copy share link. The link reproduces the coordinates and inputs, but never keeps the searched address label.

Does the simulator predict what would actually happen?

No. It is an educational modeling tool. Terrain, buildings, shielding, local weather, precipitation, wind shear, fallout arrival time and decay after H+1 are not modeled, and the wind is a single constant input, not live weather. Do not use the contours for emergency planning or response.

Does a gas mask protect against nuclear radiation?

A gas mask does not protect you from a nuclear blast, thermal radiation, or penetrating external ionizing radiation. With the correct filter, appropriate respiratory protection can help reduce inhalation of certain radioactive particles and other airborne contaminants. Sheltering, distance, time, official guidance, contamination control and radiation monitoring all matter.

Why is radiation detection important?

Ionizing radiation cannot be reliably detected by human senses. Radiation-detection equipment can provide information about radiation levels in an environment.

What should I do during an actual nuclear or radiation emergency?

Follow instructions from federal, state and local emergency authorities. Public-health guidance generally emphasizes getting inside, staying inside, and staying tuned for official information.

Run the scenario before you ever face one

Choose your location. Choose the scenario. See the potential effects. Then ask yourself: are you prepared for what happens next?

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  • ✓ Free to use
  • ✓ No account required
  • ✓ Public data