Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Friday, July 24, 2026
Original photo by HastingsNow.com
Friday looks like a comfortable bridge between this week’s cooler weather and the hotter weekend ahead. Hastings should see plenty of sunshine, a high near 82°F and a steady south-southwest breeze.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Near 82°F / Around 66°F
Sky: Mostly sunny during the day; partly cloudy overnight
Wind: South-southwest at 5–15 mph, continuing at 10–15 mph Friday night
Some clouds may linger around the region early Friday, but the Hastings point forecast calls for an overall mostly sunny day. The morning should feel mild enough for errands, outdoor work or an early walk near the river.
By afternoon, temperatures should climb toward 82°F. A south-southwest wind of 5–15 mph will add a noticeable breeze around patios, parks and the Hastings bridge without turning the day into a major wind event.
Friday evening remains favorable for outdoor plans. Skies should become partly cloudy overnight, with a low around 66°F and the south-southwest breeze continuing at 10–15 mph.
What to wear or plan
Choose light summer clothing, with an extra layer for the milder morning.
Bring sunglasses or a hat for the brighter afternoon.
Secure lightweight patio items and picnic napkins in the steady breeze.
Friday should be a good day for a river walk or outdoor evening plans.
Weather Joke of the Day
Why did Friday’s sunshine bring a map to Hastings? It wanted to make sure it found every patio before the weekend heat arrived.
Infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1854 — A Minnesota Railroad Bill Draws Fraud Charges
On July 24, U.S. Representative Elihu Washburne brought fraud charges involving a recently signed Minnesota railroad land-grant bill and called for an immediate investigation. The controversy centered on a wording change that redirected the grant from Minnesota Territory to a private railroad company; Congress repealed the bill on August 3.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society — Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad Land Grant Scandal, 1854
1911 — Machu Picchu Reaches Wider International Attention
On the morning of July 24, Yale lecturer and explorer Hiram Bingham followed local guides to Machu Picchu in Peru. The Inca site was already known locally, but Bingham’s later publication brought it to a much wider international audience and helped shape more than a century of archaeological study, tourism and debate over how its story should be told.
Source: National Geographic — Machu Picchu
1974 — The Supreme Court Orders the Watergate Tapes Released
On July 24, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the special prosecutor’s subpoena for White House tapes needed in the Watergate trial. The ruling established that presidential privilege was not absolute in a criminal investigation, and the released recordings accelerated the events leading to President Richard Nixon’s resignation on August 9.
Source: National Archives — Watergate and the Constitution: Chronology
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings, MN Point Forecast — Accessed July 23, 2026, at 8:19 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service Twin Cities — Area Forecast Discussion — Accessed July 23, 2026, at 8:19 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service Twin Cities — Hazardous Weather Outlook — Accessed July 23, 2026, at 8:19 p.m. CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society — Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad Land Grant Scandal, 1854 — Accessed July 23, 2026, at 8:19 p.m. CT.
National Geographic — Machu Picchu — Accessed July 23, 2026, at 8:19 p.m. CT.
National Archives — Watergate and the Constitution: Chronology — Accessed July 23, 2026, at 8:19 p.m. 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.
