fallout when did the bombs drop

The bombs in the Fallout universe dropped on Saturday, October 23, 2077 , with the Great War beginning and ending in just about two hours that morning.

Exact in‑universe date and time

• The nuclear exchange known as the Great War occurred on October 23, 2077.

• Canon sources specify the first detonations at 9:42 a.m. (often treated as U.S. East Coast local time) and the war effectively ending within roughly two hours.

How games and show portray it

• In Fallout 4 and related lore discussions, the timeline is framed as early‑morning Saturday strikes on the East Coast, with cities like Pennsylvania and New York hit around 9:42 a.m., followed shortly by Washington, D.C. and Boston.

• Fans note that the Fallout TV series visually suggests a later, almost midday detonation in Los Angeles, leading to some debate about small continuity quirks versus artistic license.

Quick lore notes

• The event is simply called “the Great War” , and although it lasts only about two hours, it ends pre‑war civilization across the globe in the Fallout timeline.

• Later games and articles keep October 23, 2077 as a key date, and it shows up repeatedly in terminals, wikis, and retrospective lore breakdowns.

TL;DR: In Fallout, the bombs dropped during the Great War on October 23, 2077 , starting around 9:42 a.m. and devastating the world in about two hours.