Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Original photo by Ashley Media
Tuesday starts a little damp and unsettled in Hastings, then turns into a much friendlier summer day. Early showers and possible thunderstorms should give way to clearing skies, with a high near 85°F and a mostly quiet evening.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Near 85°F Tuesday, then around 65°F Tuesday night.
Precipitation: 40% chance Tuesday morning, mainly before 9 a.m.; a 20% chance returns after 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Wind: Calm early, becoming east around 5 mph during the day.
Clouds should hang around through midmorning. The National Weather Service forecasts a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m., followed by a slight chance of showers between 8 and 9 a.m., so the morning commute, school preparation or an early river walk may be the dampest part of the day.
After that, conditions improve. Skies should gradually clear as Hastings warms into the mid-80s, with only a light east breeze around 5 mph. That makes the afternoon the better window for errands, outdoor work, a stop downtown or some time along the Mississippi River.
Tuesday night should be partly cloudy with a low around 65°F. A small 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms returns after about 3 a.m. Wednesday, so most normal Tuesday evening plans should fall between the two rain chances.
What to wear or plan
A light rain shell or umbrella will be most useful early in the day.
Comfortable summer layers should work well once skies begin to clear.
Afternoon outdoor plans look more favorable than early-morning plans.
For very early Wednesday travel, keeping rain gear handy may be useful again.
Weather Joke of the Day
Why did the morning storm leave Hastings early? It found out the sun had the afternoon shift at Levee Park.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1930 — A Dakota County Post Office Breaks Ground
On August 11, 1930, Postmaster John N. Irving broke ground for South St. Paul’s new $91,000 post office. A Minnesota Historical Society photograph collection preserves the ceremony and identifies several people who gathered for it — a small Dakota County reminder that the everyday places communities build can become part of local history.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society — Rein O. Werner Photograph Collection Finding Aid
1934 — The First Civilian Prisoners Arrive at Alcatraz
On August 11, 1934, the first civilian prisoners arrived at the new federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island. The National Archives explains that the high-security institution was designed for people considered especially difficult to manage within the federal prison system. Alcatraz operated as a federal penitentiary until 1963.
Source: National Archives — Welcome to “The Rock”
1877 — Astronomer Asaph Hall Discovers Deimos
On August 11, 1877, American astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Deimos, the smaller of Mars’ two moons. NASA notes that Hall found Phobos six days later after deliberately searching for Martian moons. Deimos is a small, heavily cratered world that takes about 30 hours to orbit Mars.
Source: NASA Science — Deimos
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings, Minnesota Point Forecast — Accessed August 10, 2026, at 9:00 PM CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society — Rein O. Werner Photograph Collection Finding Aid — Accessed August 10, 2026, at 9:00 PM CT.
National Archives — Welcome to “The Rock” — Accessed August 10, 2026, at 9:00 PM CT.
NASA Science — Deimos — Accessed August 10, 2026, at 9:00 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 Tuesday morning plans.
