Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Original photo by Ashley Media
Hastings gets a slow, potentially foggy start Thursday before the day opens into partly sunny skies and a high near 76°F. It looks like a good afternoon for downtown errands with a little riverfront time worked in.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / low: Near 76°F Thursday; around 56°F Thursday night.
Morning fog: Patchy fog possible before 9 a.m.
Wind: Calm early, becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Late-night rain: A 10% chance of showers after 5 a.m. Friday.
The morning starts near 60°F, with patchy fog potentially affecting visibility before 9 a.m. A light layer fits the school run or an early walk, and extra travel time makes sense wherever fog develops.
By afternoon, temperatures climb into the mid-70s under partly sunny skies. The gentle northeast breeze should make this a comfortable stretch for outdoor errands, a patio stop or a walk through Levee Park.
Thursday night brings increasing clouds and a low around 56°F. The small shower chance arrives toward daybreak Friday, rather than during Thursday’s main daytime stretch.
What to wear or plan
A removable light layer suits the cool start and warmer afternoon.
Afternoon is the more promising window for riverfront photos after morning fog.
An extra layer will be useful for plans that continue after sunset.
Weather + On This Date by HastingsNow.com
Weather Joke of the Day
Why did the Hastings bridge sleep in? It was waiting for the fog to clear its schedule.
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1920 — Pro Football Gets Organized in a Car Showroom
On September 17, 1920, team representatives gathered at a Hupmobile showroom in Canton, Ohio, for the founding meeting of the league that became the NFL. Initially called the American Professional Football Association, it chose Jim Thorpe as its first president. Its Midwestern beginnings included the Decatur Staleys, who later became the Chicago Bears.
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame — Sept. 17, 1920: The Founding of the NFL
1787 — A New Constitution Receives Its Signatures
On September 17, 1787, delegates signed the United States Constitution in Philadelphia after months of debate over how the country should govern itself. The document carried 39 delegates’ names, including one signed on behalf of an absent colleague. Signing was a milestone; the separate struggle to win ratification by the states still lay ahead.
Source: National Archives — The Constitution: How Did It Happen?
1976 — Enterprise Makes Its Entrance
Fifty years ago today, on September 17, 1976, NASA rolled out space shuttle Enterprise in Palmdale, California, with Star Trek’s creator and cast members among the guests. Fans had campaigned for the name. Enterprise never traveled into space, but its atmospheric flight tests helped prepare the shuttle program for the missions that followed.
Source: NASA — Space Shuttle Enterprise Makes Its Public Debut
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings Text Forecast — Accessed September 16, 2026, at 6:16 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service — Hastings Hourly Forecast Table — Accessed September 16, 2026, at 6:16 p.m. CT.
History sources
Pro Football Hall of Fame — Sept. 17, 1920: The Founding of the NFL — Accessed September 16, 2026, at 6:16 p.m. CT.
National Archives — The Constitution: How Did It Happen? — Accessed September 16, 2026, at 6:16 p.m. CT.
NASA — Space Shuttle Enterprise Makes Its Public Debut — Accessed September 16, 2026, at 6:16 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 this afternoon.
