Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Original photo by Ashley Media
Thursday looks like one of those late-August days that is easy to work with in Hastings: plenty of sunshine, light wind and a comfortable high near 82°F. The evening turns clear and cooler, making the day friendly for errands, patios, river walks or a little extra time outside.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Near 82°F Thursday / around 52°F Thursday night
Sky: Sunny during the day; clear overnight
Rain: No rain is included in the current Thursday or Thursday-night point forecast
Wind: Calm early, becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon; north around 5 mph Thursday night before becoming calm
Thursday morning should start quiet and sunny, with calm wind early. It may feel a little cool at the beginning of the day, so a light layer could be useful for an early commute, errands or a walk near the Mississippi before the sun has had much time to warm things up.
By afternoon, Hastings should settle into a classic pleasant August pattern. The National Weather Service expects a high near 82°F with sunshine and only a light northwest wind around 5 mph. That makes the afternoon a good window for outdoor work, a Downtown Hastings stop, Levee Park or a patio without much weather getting in the way.
Thursday evening stays simple. Skies remain clear as temperatures fall, with a north wind around 5 mph becoming calm. The overnight low is forecast near 52°F, so anyone staying out late may appreciate a sweatshirt or light jacket.
What to wear or plan
Short sleeves should work well by afternoon.
Bring a light layer for early morning or after sunset.
Sunglasses and sunscreen make sense for longer outdoor stretches.
Take advantage of the dry forecast for a walk, patio stop or riverfront time.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
Weather Joke of the Day
Thursday is sunny enough that the Hastings bridge may need sunglasses. The Mississippi will handle the mirror.
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1857 — Minnesota’s Constitution Finds a Compromise
On August 27, 1857, Minnesota’s bipartisan Compromise Committee finished its draft of a state constitution and returned it to the separate Democratic and Republican conventions. The parties adopted the compromise the next day, signed their respective copies on August 29, and voters ratified the constitution that October—an important step toward Minnesota entering the Union in 1858.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society — Minnesota Constitutional Convention, 1857
1859 — A Well Helps Launch the Oil Age
On August 27, 1859, Edwin Drake completed the first drilled oil well at Oil Creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania, an event widely treated as the beginning of the modern petroleum era. The well showed that oil could be reached reliably by drilling, helping trigger a rapid boom that transformed energy, transportation and industry.
Source: Library of Congress — History of the Oil and Gas Industry
1962 — Mariner 2 Leaves for Venus
On August 27, 1962, NASA launched Mariner 2 from Cape Canaveral toward Venus. The spacecraft became the first successful mission to another planet when it flew past Venus that December, returning measurements of the planet and interplanetary space and helping usher in the modern era of planetary exploration.
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings MN Point Forecast — Accessed August 26, 2026, at 5:22 PM CT.
National Weather Service Twin Cities — Hazardous Weather Outlook — Accessed August 26, 2026, at 5:22 PM CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society — Minnesota Constitutional Convention, 1857 — Accessed August 26, 2026, at 5:22 PM CT.
Library of Congress — History of the Oil and Gas Industry — Accessed August 26, 2026, at 5:22 PM CT.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory — Mariner 2 — Accessed August 26, 2026, at 5:22 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.
