Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
Image of the Hastings Minnesota Bridge photographed by HastingsNow.com
Monday brings Hastings a little bit of everything: early thunderstorms and smoky skies, followed by hot afternoon sunshine. The morning deserves weather awareness, while the afternoon calls for a plan to stay cool.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: High near 93°F; Monday night low near 69°F
Precipitation: 70% chance, with thunderstorms most likely before 9 a.m.
Wind: Southwest 10–15 mph during the day; west-northwest 10–15 mph overnight
Feels like: Heat-index values as high as 99°F
Active alerts: Air Quality Alert until 11 a.m.; Heat Advisory from noon to 6 p.m.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely around the morning commute, especially before 9 a.m. Patchy wildfire smoke is also forecast through approximately 11 a.m., when the Air Quality Alert is scheduled to expire.
The clouds should gradually clear, allowing temperatures to climb quickly. Monday afternoon will become sunny and hot, with a high near 93°F and heat-index values approaching 99°F.
A Heat Advisory will be in effect from noon until 6 p.m. The hottest and most humid conditions are expected during the early to middle part of the afternoon, so outdoor work, sports and long walks may be more comfortable earlier or later.
Monday evening should turn mostly clear. Some patchy smoke may linger before 11 p.m., with temperatures eventually falling to around 69°F overnight.
What to wear or plan
Keep rain gear nearby for the early-morning thunderstorms.
Choose light, breathable clothing for the hot afternoon.
Limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day.
Bring water and check on children, older adults, pets and neighbors who may need help staying cool.
Weather Joke of the Day
Hastings is getting breakfast thunderstorms and an afternoon Heat Advisory—Monday apparently ordered the full Minnesota sampler.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1858 — Minneapolis Starts Its Town Government
On July 20, 1858, Minneapolis inaugurated its town government, four years after platting began near St. Anthony Falls. The National Park Service notes that Minneapolis would not be incorporated as a city until 1866, making this an early civic step in the growth of a Mississippi River community that would become Minnesota’s largest city.
Source: National Park Service — River of History, Chapter 8
1968 — The First Special Olympics Games Begin
Nearly 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 26 states and Canada gathered at Chicago’s Soldier Field on July 20, 1968, for the first International Special Olympics Games. The event helped launch a worldwide movement centered on athletic opportunity, dignity and inclusion—an uplifting reminder of what can grow from one ambitious community gathering.
Source: Special Olympics — 1968 Games
1976 — Viking 1 Lands on Mars
NASA’s Viking 1 touched down safely on Mars on July 20, 1976, becoming the first successful lander on the planet and returning humanity’s first ground-level view of the Red Planet. The mission also carried a self-contained science laboratory, helping establish techniques that later Mars landers and rovers continued to build upon.
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Extended Forecast for Hastings, Minnesota — Accessed July 19, 2026, at 8:24 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service — Tabular Forecast for Hastings, Minnesota — Accessed July 19, 2026, at 8:24 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service — Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Hastings — Accessed July 19, 2026, at 8:24 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service Twin Cities — Area Forecast Discussion — Accessed July 19, 2026, at 8:24 p.m. CT.
History sources
National Park Service — River of History, Chapter 8 — Accessed July 19, 2026, at 8:24 p.m. CT.
Special Olympics — 1968 Games — Accessed July 19, 2026, at 8:24 p.m. CT.
NASA Science — Viking: 50 Years on Mars — Accessed July 19, 2026, at 8:24 p.m. CT.
Weather can change quickly, especially with summer storms, so readers should check official alerts and radar before heading out.
Check on a Hastings neighbor who may need help staying cool.
