Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Friday, August 21, 2026
Original photo by HastingsNow.com
Friday looks like one of the easier late-August days to plan around in Hastings: mostly sunny, warm without being extreme, and followed by a mostly clear night. After Thursday night’s small thunderstorm chance moves through, the forecast settles down nicely for Friday.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Lower 80s Friday, falling into the lower 60s Friday night
Sky: Mostly sunny during the day, mostly clear at night
Rain: No measurable precipitation is forecast for Friday in the latest NWS Dakota-Rice-Goodhue planning forecast
Wind: West up to 10 mph, shifting northwest in the afternoon; northwest up to 10 mph Friday night
Friday morning should feel much quieter than Thursday night, when a small thunderstorm chance remains in the Hastings forecast. By Friday, the National Weather Service expects mostly sunny skies and light winds.
The afternoon looks especially friendly for work outside, errands, a walk through Levee Park or some time along the Mississippi River. Temperatures should reach the lower 80s, while a west breeze shifts to the northwest during the afternoon.
Friday evening stays comfortable and mostly clear. Temperatures will gradually fall through the evening before reaching the lower 60s overnight, so the riverfront may feel noticeably cooler after sunset.
What to wear or plan
Short sleeves should work well through the warmer part of the day.
Sunglasses, sunscreen and some water make sense for longer outdoor plans.
Keep a light layer handy if you will be downtown or near the river after sunset.
Friday looks favorable for patios, parks, river walks and other outdoor plans.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
Weather Joke of the Day
Friday’s weather is so cooperative that even the Hastings bridge can stop bracing for drama. It just has to stand there and look good in the sunshine.
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1883 — A Rochester Storm Changes Minnesota Medicine
On August 21, 1883, a powerful tornado tore through Rochester and surrounding southeastern Minnesota, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. In the aftermath, W. W. Mayo, his sons and the Sisters of St. Francis helped care for the injured; that emergency response helped inspire Saint Marys Hospital, which opened in 1889 and became part of the medical partnership that grew into Mayo Clinic.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society / MNopedia — Rochester Cyclone, 1883
1959 — Hawaii Becomes the 50th State
On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state after President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the official proclamation of admission. The milestone followed Congress’s approval of statehood legislation in March and a June referendum in the territory, concluding what the National Archives describes as a long and often challenged path to statehood.
Source: National Archives — Hawaii Statehood, August 21, 1959
1911 — The Mona Lisa Vanishes from the Louvre
On August 21, 1911, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa disappeared from the Louvre in Paris. More than two years later, former Louvre worker Vincenzo Peruggia tried to sell the painting in Italy and was caught; the Louvre notes that the spectacular theft only added to the painting’s worldwide fame.
Source: Louvre Museum — From the Mona Lisa to The Wedding Feast at Cana
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen — Zone Forecast Product for Dakota County, including Hastings — Accessed August 20, 2026, at 6:37 PM CT.
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen — Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Dakota-Rice-Goodhue — Accessed August 20, 2026, at 6:37 PM CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society / MNopedia — Rochester Cyclone, 1883 — Accessed August 20, 2026, at 6:37 PM CT.
National Archives — Hawaii Statehood, August 21, 1959 — Accessed August 20, 2026, at 6:37 PM CT.
Louvre Museum — From the Mona Lisa to The Wedding Feast at Cana — Accessed August 20, 2026, at 6:37 PM CT.
Weather can change quickly, especially with summer storms, so readers should check official alerts and radar before heading out.
Make a little time to enjoy Hastings outdoors today.
