Radstorm

Radstorms, also called radiation storms, are a unique type of weather phenomena that appeared after the Great War, capable of blanketing whole areas in moderate-to-high levels of atmospheric radiation,^[1] and primarily serving as environmental hazards for the player character in multiple entries of the Fallout series.

Background

Initial cases of radstorms occurring directly after the Great War were often extremely violent and reportedly were capable of lifting people into the sky.^[1] It can be inferred that these first storms, when lingering nuclear fallout was at its most potent, might have been the most immediate cause of death and ghoulification for many Americans who were left unprepared on the day the bombs dropped.^[2]

Though appearances of radstorms in the Fallout series to date have been relegated to East Coast areas at least decades after the nuclear apocalypse, Randall Clark describes the possible occurrence of a radstorm in his journal as far back in the post-War era as January 2078. According to his description, the storm lasted two days and once it was over, radiation levels at least around Zion Canyon in Utah had subsided from previous highs of 500+ rads. He also mentions finding mounds of glowing green snow covering the ground upon emerging after the storm passed.^[3]^[4]

Characteristics

One of the most overt effects of the nuclear detonations that scorched the former United States, a radstorm typically results in green overcast skies, audible winds, and green-glowing lightning. An approaching radstorm will give off a clap of its distinctive thundering to signal its arrival.

Over the course of the storm, lightning periodically flashes and causes a brief spike of radiation in the area, inflicting around 5 rads per lightning flash. Sheltering within the interiors of sealed buildings, such as the root cellar in Sanctuary Hills, will often provide protection and reduce the amount of accumulated radiation until the storm passes.

Locations

In the Commonwealth, radstorms are far more common than in any other area, primarily due to the proximity to the nuclear detonation site that became the heart of the Glowing Sea. Often, atmospheric pressure systems blow in from the southwest, gathering the radioactive material of the Glowing Sea and spreading it over the surrounding area of the ruins of Boston.^[5]

In Appalachia, radstorms can usually be seen approaching from the distance by their appearance, which is a green version of the clouds created from the blast zone of a nuclear detonation. Once they reach the proximity of the player character, they will begin to absorb radiation from the storm unless wearing power armor or a hazmat suit to reduce the radiation absorption until the storm has subsided or moved on before dissipating. Rad-X can be used as a temporary means to reduce the radiation damage while the storm is active.