I'm sure that some wizards were hit during the mass bombing campaigns of WWII.
Looking at weapons is a bit narrow when talking about things that alter the environment to an extreme degree.
When I think nuke, I think of four attacks - since nuclear explosions have 4 steps. See
here for details about 1 megaton air blast (some things would have a small radius if not an air blast), but basically:
1) Flash and Fireball
- looking in the wrong direction and you see the flash
- heat radiation (houses within 14 kilometers are on fire)
- X-ray pulse (kills people up to 3 kilometers away)
- after the flash, the forming fireball release blinding bright flashes - blinding those 80 kilometers away
- the intensity of the light itself will burn those within 10 kilometers (and some people will leave shadows a wall)
Blast:
- moves slower than the flash and fireball (seperate attack)
- shifts earth and houses up to 14 kilometers away - without a deep foundation the heaviest warded building is going to be tossed around.
- change in air pressure kills everyone within 3 kilometers and 50% of those within 8 kilometers
- Hurricane strengh winds are hitting that warded building.
Firestorm
- moves slower than the blast (separate attack).
- burns up all available oxygen
- temperatures rise above lethal levels
- strong wind push the fires faster than humans can run
Delayed Radiation Fallout
- can you say cancer?
Harry almost lost his hand when his protection spell failed to deflect heat. Who wards against x-rays? If background heat is warded against, does that mean you have a perfectly insulated house and need to find a way to vent excess heat (the way spacesuits must)? Would a ward prevent the oxygen from being sucked out of a house? And can you ward against background radiation?
Maybe it's time to look at Ward vs Environment. Would a ward protect your house in the middle of forest fire? Would it divert a deluge that threatens to flood you out? Would it deflect a tornado?
I'd say the environment would eventually wear down any ward - but maybe that's just me.
Richard