The U.S. Cities That Theoretically Could Face the Highest Risk in a Nuclear Emergency

Relatively Safe: Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand would fare relatively better than other regions because they would avoid most bombs dropped in the Northern Hemisphere and rely on wheat crops somewhat more tolerant of cooler climates. However, even these nations would face severe challenges as global trade collapsed and temperatures dropped worldwide. The research makes clear that maintaining international food trade and rapidly implementing resilient food production strategies would be essential to preventing complete societal collapse. Without these adaptations, nuclear winter could trigger famines exceeding even the catastrophic direct casualties from nuclear weapons themselves.