Operation Hurricane
UK · 1952 · 25 kilotons · pure fission
Overview
First British nuclear test.
With a yield of 25 kilotons[1], the Hurricane is 1.7× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. As a pure fission weapon, it derives its energy from nuclear fission of uranium or plutonium. [2]
Hurricane Blast Effects
The table below shows the calculated radius of each effect zone for an air burst at optimum height. Values are scaling laws from The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (Glasstone & Dolan, 1977) and the published effects scaling table[3, 4].
| Effect zone | Radius (air burst) |
|---|---|
| Fireball radius | 0.22 km |
| Severe blast (20 psi) | 0.65 km |
| Moderate blast (5 psi) | 1.83 km |
| Light blast (1 psi) | 5.06 km |
| 3rd-degree thermal burns | 2.73 km |
| 2nd-degree thermal burns | 3.49 km |
| 1st-degree thermal burns | 4.58 km |
All radii assume an air burst at optimum height and are 1-D ground-distance estimates from the detonation point. Real-world effects depend on terrain, weather, and building construction. Casualty and fallout estimates are not shown pending a verified population and fallout model.
Run the Hurricane on a City
Use the interactive simulator to detonate the Hurricane on any city worldwide. Click any location on the map to see the fireball, blast, and thermal radii (air burst at optimum height) overlaid on real geography.
🎯 Simulate HurricaneRelated Weapons
FAQ
How big is the Hurricane blast radius?
In an air burst at optimum height, the Hurricane produces a fireball roughly 0.22 km in radius and a 5 psi moderate-blast zone of about 1.83 km — the area in which most residential buildings would collapse. The 1 psi light-damage radius extends to roughly 5.06 km, where windows shatter.
What is the yield of the Hurricane?
The Hurricane has a yield of 25 kilotons of TNT equivalent. That is 1.7× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.
Is the Hurricane bigger than the Hiroshima bomb?
The Hiroshima bomb (Little Boy) had a yield of approximately 15 kilotons. The Hurricane at 25 kilotons is 1.7× more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.[5]
What thermal burn radius does the Hurricane produce?
In an air burst at optimum height, thermal radiation from the Hurricane can cause 3rd-degree burns out to roughly 2.73 km, 2nd-degree burns to 3.49 km, and 1st-degree burns to 4.58 km.
Sources
- 1.Source: Atomic Archive, Britain Goes Nuclear — retrieved Oct 2026
- 2.Source: US DoD & ERDA (Glasstone & Dolan), via Atomic Archive, The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, 3rd ed. (1977), Chapter 1 — retrieved Oct 2026
- 3.Source: U.S. DoD / DOE (Glasstone & Dolan, via Atomic Archive), The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, 3rd ed. (1977) §2.127 — retrieved Oct 2026
- 4.Source: Wikipedia, Effects of nuclear explosions — scaling-law table — retrieved Oct 2026
- 5.Source: US DOE / NNSA Nevada Field Office, United States Nuclear Tests, July 1945 through September 1992 (DOE/NV-209 Rev. 16, Sep 2015), NNSS publication library — retrieved Oct 2026