Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
Original photo by HastingsNow.com
Thursday gives Hastings a pretty friendly summer day for most outdoor plans, with warmth, sunshine and increasing clouds. The bigger weather question arrives toward evening, when thunderstorms become more possible.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Around 83°F Thursday, then near 62°F overnight
Sky: Sunny to start, with clouds increasing through the day
Precipitation: About a 10% storm chance after 5 p.m., rising to 60% Thursday night
Wind: Southwest 5–15 mph during the day, easing to 5–10 mph Thursday night
Thursday morning should be the easiest part of the forecast. Sunshine gets the day started, with a southwest breeze developing as temperatures climb toward the lower 80s.
The afternoon remains warm and generally favorable for work, errands, a walk near the Mississippi River or some time outdoors around Hastings. Clouds should gradually increase, but the daytime forecast carries only a small thunderstorm chance, mainly after 5 p.m.
Thursday evening deserves more attention. The National Weather Service forecasts showers and thunderstorms becoming likely before about 10 p.m., followed by a smaller shower chance before conditions turn partly cloudy later at night. The overnight low should settle near 62°F.
The NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook also says scattered thunderstorms are expected Thursday evening and that the strongest storms could produce large hail and damaging winds. A Hazardous Weather Outlook is not itself a watch or warning, but it is useful context as the evening forecast develops.
What to wear or plan
Comfortable summer clothes should work well for the warm afternoon.
Sunglasses may be useful during the sunnier first part of the day.
Outdoor plans have the better weather window earlier Thursday.
An indoor backup makes sense for Thursday evening activities.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
Weather Joke of the Day
Why does Thursday’s Hastings forecast need a timecard? Sunshine gets the day shift, and the storm chance doesn’t clock in until after 5.
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1904 — A Powerful Storm Changes Waconia
On August 20, 1904, a violent cyclone struck Waconia and other Minnesota communities. MNopedia reports that more than 100 Waconia homes were damaged, businesses and public buildings were hit, five people in the city were killed and more than twenty were injured. The event remains a sobering piece of Minnesota weather history from an era when “cyclone” and “tornado” were often used interchangeably.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society / MNopedia — Waconia Cyclone, 1904
1866 — A National Push for the Eight-Hour Workday
On August 20, 1866, delegates in Baltimore founded the National Labor Union, described by the Library of Congress as the first attempt to organize a national labor group in the United States. Among the organization’s resolutions was a national call for an eight-hour workday—a demand that would become one of the defining labor issues of the decades ahead.
2008 — Usain Bolt Flies Through the 200 Meters
On August 20, 2008, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won the Olympic men’s 200-meter final in Beijing in 19.30 seconds, breaking Michael Johnson’s long-standing world record. Bolt had already won the 100 meters in world-record time, making his Beijing sprint double one of the signature performances of the Games.
Source: World Athletics — Beijing 2008 Men’s 200 Metres Final Results
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings, MN 7-Day Forecast — Accessed August 19, 2026, at 6:40 PM CT.
National Weather Service — Hazardous Weather Outlook — Accessed August 19, 2026, at 6:40 PM CT.
National Weather Service — Twin Cities Area Forecast Discussion — Accessed August 19, 2026, at 6:40 PM CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society / MNopedia — Waconia Cyclone, 1904 — Accessed August 19, 2026, at 6:40 PM CT.
Library of Congress — Founding of the National Labor Union and the 1st National Call for an 8-Hour Work Day — Accessed August 19, 2026, at 6:40 PM CT.
World Athletics — Beijing 2008 Men’s 200 Metres Final Results — Accessed August 19, 2026, at 6:40 PM CT.
Weather can change quickly, especially with summer storms, so readers should check official alerts and radar before heading out.
Check the radar before heading out for evening plans.
