Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
AI image by HastingsNow.com
Saturday brings Hastings a sunny, warm day with less intense heat than we experienced Friday. The main weather detail to watch will be wildfire smoke gradually returning after noon.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Near 89°F / Around 66°F
Sky: Sunny, with patchy smoke developing after noon
Wind: North around 5 mph
Rain: No daytime precipitation is currently forecast
Alerts: No NWS warning, watch or advisory applying to Saturday was posted at the time checked
Saturday morning should be sunny and will likely offer the clearest window for errands, outdoor events, walks and other plans around Hastings. Temperatures will rise steadily, but a light north wind should make the morning more comfortable than the hottest days earlier this week.
During the afternoon, Hastings should reach a high near 89°F. Patchy wildfire smoke is forecast to begin appearing after noon, so the sky may look hazier and distant views around the Mississippi River or Hastings bridge may become less distinct.
Friday’s Extreme Heat Warning expires at 9 p.m. and does not extend into Saturday. As of Friday evening, the National Weather Service had not posted a new warning, watch or advisory for Saturday.
Saturday evening should remain mostly clear as temperatures gradually fall. The overnight low will be around 66°F, with widespread smoke becoming more likely mainly after 1 a.m. Sunday.
What to wear or plan
Choose light summer clothing and bring sunscreen for afternoon activities.
Keep water nearby, especially during longer outdoor events.
People sensitive to wildfire smoke may prefer morning activities or shorter outdoor plans after noon.
Expect increasingly hazy views later in the day and overnight.
Weather Joke of the Day
Why did the sun cross the Hastings bridge before lunch? To reach the clear side before the afternoon smoke arrived.
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1908 — Balloon Racers Lift Off from St. Paul
On July 18, 1908, a long-distance balloon race launched from Lexington Park in St. Paul. The Pioneer Press promoted it as a major summer attraction, and a later report referred to the completed race from the park. The event captured Minnesota’s fascination with flight during an era when powered aviation was still new and giant gas balloons could draw an enthusiastic crowd.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society — St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 17, 1908, Page 7
1947 — The Presidential Line of Succession Changes
On July 18, 1947, President Harry Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act. The law placed the Speaker of the House immediately behind the vice president in the presidential line of succession, followed by the Senate president pro tempore. It established the basic order that continues to guide how presidential succession is organized today.
Source: U.S. Senate — Presidential Succession Act
1976 — Gymnastics Receives Its First Perfect 10
On July 18, 1976, 14-year-old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci became the first gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10 at the Olympic Games. Her uneven-bars performance in Montreal was so unprecedented that the scoreboard displayed 1.00 because it had not been programmed to show 10.00. She went on to earn six more perfect scores during the Games.
Source: Olympics.com — Nadia Comaneci Scores the First Perfect 10 in Gymnastics
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings, Minnesota, Seven-Day Forecast — Accessed July 17, 2026, at 7:05 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service — Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Hastings — Accessed July 17, 2026, at 7:05 p.m. CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society — St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 17, 1908, Page 7 — Accessed July 17, 2026, at 7:05 p.m. CT.
Minnesota Historical Society — St. Paul Pioneer Press, August 9, 1908, Page 12 — Accessed July 17, 2026, at 7:05 p.m. CT.
U.S. Senate — Presidential Succession Act — Accessed July 17, 2026, at 7:05 p.m. CT.
Olympics.com — Nadia Comaneci Scores the First Perfect 10 in Gymnastics — Accessed July 17, 2026, at 7:05 p.m. CT.
Weather can change quickly, especially with summer storms, so readers should check official alerts and radar before heading out.
Check the latest air-quality conditions before a long Hastings river walk, outdoor workout or afternoon event.
