
It’s a situation you’d hope to never experience – but, one that may have crossed your mind in light of recent world events.

What would happen if a nuclear weapon were detonated over your city?

While it might seem obvious that the initial blast would wipe out everything in its immediate path, just how far the effects could reach might surprise you.

A new interactive map reveals the terrifying scope of a nuclear blast for any given area, showing the extent of the fireball, radiation, shockwave, and heat spawned by different weapons, from the 15 KT ‘Little Boy’ dropped on Hiroshima to the USSR’s 50,000 KT Tsar Bomba.

To use the tool, first enter your location. Then, select type of bomb and bomb blast to see the different effects

While it might seem obvious that the initial blast from a nuclear bomb would wipe out everything in its immediate path, just how far the effects could reach might surprise you. The new interactive map shows the terrifying range of different bombs, and the difference between a surface blast and atmospheric

The new tool from the Outrider Foundation allows you to enter any location to simulate a nuclear blast.

You can also select between a surface blast or airburst, and four different bombs: the 15KT ‘Little Boy,’ North Korea’s 150 KT Hwasong-14, the US’s 300KT W-87, and the 50,000 KT Tsar Bomba, the largest USSR bomb ever detonated.

If a W-87 were dropped over New York City, for example, the effects would be catastrophic.

The tool calculates the fireball would span .42 square miles and send a 26.87 square-mile shock wave.

Radiation would extend .25 square miles, stretching into New Jersey.

The new tool from the Outrider Foundation allows you to enter any location to simulate a nuclear blast. You can also select between a surface blast or airburst, and four different bombs: the 15KT ‘Little Boy,’ North Korea’s 150 KT Hwasong-14, the US’s 300KT W-87, and the 50,000 KT Tsar Bomba, the largest USSR bomb ever detonated. The example above shows New York

According to the tool, there would be 1,152,871 fatalities, and 1,967,797 injuries.

And, if Tsar Bomba were detonated over the same area, the effects would be even more terrifying.

An airburst of the massive bomb would result in 7,662,162 fatalities, with a shock wave travelling 522.08 square miles and heat extending over 4300 miles.

Another 4,245,719 people would be injured, with the affected area stretching as far north as Mount Kisco and as far south as East Brunswick, New Jersey.

The tool was inspired by researcher Alex Wellerstein’s NukeMap, the team told Gizmodo.

A new interactive map reveals the terrifying scope of a nuclear blast for any given area, showing the extent of the fireball, radiation, shockwave, and heat spawned by different weapons. Above, a W-87 air burst over London is simulated

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IN THE EVENT OF A NUCLEAR ATTACK? Toronto-based YouTubers Gregory Brown and Mitchell Moffit have detailed a number of tips to prepare for a nuclear bomb. Pack an emergency supply kit containing water and non-perishable food items. When a nuclear bomb goes off, it sends out radiation that can ruin your mobile phone and laptop, so preparing battery-powered radios for communication is wise. For the blast, it is important to get as much concrete between you and the blast as possible. For the fall-out it's important to have thick walls and a thick roof, he says, and in a house it is a good idea to blockade all the windows. But if you are outside and know the blast is coming, you might have time to get to a better shelter. First you should get on the ground with your hands behind your head and brace yourself for the blast. Never look at the blast, because it can cause you to go blind temporarily. The, after the blast, you have 30 minutes to get to the best place. Once you get inside remove your clothes and clean yourself straight away and blow your nose, to stop the radioactive materials from spreading, and do not use conditioner. If you cannot have a shower, wipe yourself with a wet cloth. Advertisement

In recent years, the popular NukeMap has been used to simulate all kinds of disaster scenarios.

The panic-inducing false alarm that that warned Hawaiian residents of an incoming ballistic missile back in January, for example, brought to light the catastrophic events that could take place under a real nuclear attack.

A report from DefenseOne following the terrifying mishap stated that a warhead launched by North Korea would likely be far bigger than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The blast alone would cause well over 150,000 deaths if dropped over the capital city Honolulu – and, given the landscape and prevalence of wood-frame buildings, experts say an even more devastating ‘firestorm’ would soon follow.

The false alarm mistakenly issued on Jan 13 highlighted the need for more thorough efforts to educate the public and help them prepare for such an attack, according to DefenseOne.