Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Sunday, January 18
Image by HastingsNow.com/ashley.
If you’re headed along the Mississippi River trail or doing the “quick stop downtown” that somehow takes 45 minutes, today’s weather vibe is very Hastings-in-January: beautiful, brisk, and absolutely not impressed by your fashion choices.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: 15°F / -6°F
Precip chance + timing: Snow this afternoon (mainly before 4pm, ~80%), then a smaller chance early this evening (before 7pm, ~30%). 1–2 inches of daytime accumulation is possible.
Wind + feels-like: SW 5–15 mph turning NW, with gusts up to 30 mph. Overnight wind chills may drop as low as -25.
Alerts/hazards: Cold Weather Advisory starts 9:00pm Sunday through noon Monday; patchy blowing snow is possible tonight.
Plain-English forecast (what it feels like outside)
Morning: (not provided)
Afternoon: Snow is expected, with the steadiest stuff wrapping up by late afternoon. Winds shift around to the northwest and gust, which can make roads and sidewalks feel a little more “extra.”
Evening + overnight: Any leftover snow chances fade early in the evening, but the cold ramps up. It stays cloudy at first, then trends partly cloudy later—meanwhile, the wind chills head toward “why do we live here again?” territory.
What to wear / what to plan
Warm base layer + winter coat (today is not a “cute jacket” day).
Gloves/mittens + something for ears (wind makes everything feel colder).
Give yourself extra time while snow is falling (and watch for slick spots).
Tonight: plan shorter outdoor time—wind chills turn dangerous fast.
Weather Joke of the Day
Snow’s clocking out before 4, but the northwest wind is clocking in—Levee Park might feel like a walk-in freezer.
AI image by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1849 — U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas introduced a bill in the Senate aimed at organizing the Minnesota Territory, after residents pushed for formal territorial government. Minnesota Territory officially came into existence later that spring. (Source:
https://collections.mnhs.org/mnhistorymagazine/articles/14/v14i02p127-171.pdf)1919 — The Paris Peace Conference opened as Allied leaders began negotiating how the world would move forward after World War I—talks that led to major postwar treaties, including the Treaty of Versailles. (Source:
https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/january-18/)1958 — Willie O’Ree became the first Black player to compete in an NHL game—an on-ice milestone the league continues to honor through programs and awards that carry his name. (Source:
https://www.nhl.com/community/willie-oree/)
How we know
Sources used for today’s post (all times Central Time):
National Weather Service (NOAA/NWS) — “Extended Forecast for Hastings MN” —
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.7281&lon=-92.8577— Accessed Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 1:05pm CT (NWS “Last Update” shown as 11:21am CST).Library of Congress — “Today in History - January 18: The Paris Peace Conference” —
https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/january-18/— Accessed Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 1:05pm CT.Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) — “The Creation of the Territory” (Minnesota History magazine PDF) —
https://collections.mnhs.org/mnhistorymagazine/articles/14/v14i02p127-171.pdf— Accessed Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 1:05pm CT.NHL.com — “Willie O’Ree” (NHL Unites) —
https://www.nhl.com/community/willie-oree/— Accessed Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 1:05pm CT.
Weather can change quickly—especially snow/wind—so readers should check official NWS alerts for the latest updates before heading out.
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