W76 on Washington DC
100 kt thermonuclear weapon · USA · Population 689,545 · Density 4,300/km²
About this scenario
This page calculates what would happen if the W76 (USA, 1978) detonated over Washington DC (USA). Common SLBM warhead.
The capital of the United States, home to the federal government, the Pentagon, and most major U.S. agencies. With an urban-core density of about 4,300 people per km², even a relatively small detonation over the city center would affect a large population.
The W76 delivers 100 kt of explosive yield — 7× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. The tables below show calculated effect radii for an air burst (optimized for blast spread) and a surface burst (which produces massive fallout).
Air-burst effects (W76 over Washington DC)
| Effect zone | Radius | Est. affected |
|---|---|---|
| Fireball (vaporization, 100% fatal) | 0.91 km | ~11,307 |
| Severe blast (20 PSI, ~98% fatal) | 2.20 km | ~52,953 |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI, ~50% fatal) | 4.71 km | ~116,928 |
| Light blast (1 PSI, glass injuries) | 13.39 km | ~106,179 |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 4.43 km | — |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 7.93 km | — |
Estimated total fatalities: ~181,188 · Estimated total affected (inside 1 PSI light-blast radius): ~2,423,001.
Surface-burst effects (with fallout)
A surface burst trades blast spread for radioactive fallout — much smaller blast radii but a large lethal fallout plume drifting downwind. This is what would happen if the W76 struck ground level rather than detonating optimally above Washington DC.
| Effect zone | Radius (surface burst) |
|---|---|
| Fireball | 0.73 km |
| Severe blast (20 PSI) | 1.21 km |
| Moderate blast (5 PSI) | 2.59 km |
| Light blast (1 PSI) | 7.37 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 2.66 km |
| Lethal fallout zone | ~75.7 km |
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See the actual blast zones overlaid on a map of Washington DC with population-density-based casualty estimates updated in real time as you move the detonation point.
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FAQ
What would happen if the W76 detonated over Washington DC?
In an air burst over Washington DC, the W76 (100 kt) would produce a fireball about 0.91 km in radius. The 5 PSI moderate-blast zone — where most residential buildings collapse — would extend to 4.71 km. Light blast damage and shattered windows would reach 13.39 km. Given Washington DC's urban density (~4,300/km²), this scenario yields an estimated 181,188 immediate fatalities and about 106,179 additional injured.
How many people would die in Washington DC from a W76 strike?
An air burst of the W76 over Washington DC could cause an estimated 181,188 immediate fatalities and 106,179 additional injuries. The fireball alone (radius 0.91 km) would kill approximately 11,307 people; the severe-blast zone (20 PSI, radius 2.20 km) would add 52,953; the moderate-blast zone (5 PSI, radius 4.71 km) would add 116,928 more. Real numbers depend heavily on time of day, sheltering, weather, and altitude of detonation.
What is the blast radius of the W76 on Washington DC?
For an air burst over Washington DC: fireball 0.91 km, severe blast (20 PSI) 2.20 km, moderate blast (5 PSI) 4.71 km, light blast (1 PSI) 13.39 km. Thermal radiation causes 3rd-degree burns out to 4.43 km. A surface burst would shrink the blast radii by roughly 40 percent but generate massive radioactive fallout extending ~76 km from ground zero.
Is the W76 bigger than the bomb that hit Hiroshima?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of about 15 kilotons. The W76 at 100 kt is 7× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.