Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Original photo by Ashley Media
Tuesday looks like a changeable but manageable August day in Hastings: clouds to start, some sunshine trying to win out, and the better chance for showers and thunderstorms holding off until late in the day.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Near 79°F / around 56°F
Precipitation: 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m.; 30% chance of showers mainly before 7 p.m. Tuesday night
Wind: Calm early, becoming west-northwest around 5 mph; northwest around 5 mph Tuesday evening before becoming calm
Sky: Cloudy early, gradually becoming mostly sunny, then partly cloudy Tuesday night
Tuesday morning should begin on the cloudier side. The National Weather Service expects those clouds to gradually give way to more sunshine, with temperatures climbing toward a comfortable high near 79°F.
The afternoon looks fairly usable for work, errands, a river walk or time outside, but keep an eye on the western sky as the day gets later. The Hastings point forecast puts the main 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after about 5 p.m.
The National Weather Service says another round of storms could develop late Tuesday across southern and eastern Minnesota, although confidence in that round remains relatively low. For Dakota County, the agency’s Hazardous Weather Outlook currently describes the probability of severe weather as low.
Any lingering shower chance should diminish fairly quickly Tuesday evening. The chance falls to 30%, mainly before 7 p.m., followed by partly cloudy skies and a cooler overnight low near 56°F.
What to wear or plan
A normal light summer layer should work for most of the day.
Keep a rain jacket or umbrella handy if you will be out toward dinner time.
Tuesday afternoon may offer the better window for a walk, patio stop or outdoor errand.
Evening plans around Levee Park or the riverfront are worth checking against the latest radar before leaving.
Weather Joke of the Day
Tuesday’s clouds may spend half the day leaving Hastings, only to realize they forgot something and come back around dinner.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1862 — A Painful Day in Minnesota History
On August 18, 1862, Mdewakanton Dakota warriors attacked traders and government employees at the Lower Sioux Agency and defeated a relief force sent from Fort Ridgely. Violence also spread to farms and settlements in Renville and Brown counties during an early and devastating stage of the six-week U.S.-Dakota War, a conflict and aftermath that profoundly changed Minnesota.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society — During the War
1868 — Helium Is Spotted in the Sun
During a solar eclipse on August 18, 1868, French astronomer Jules Janssen studied the Sun’s spectrum from India and observed an unusual yellow spectral line. The observation became part of the discovery of helium, giving the element one of science history’s stranger origin stories: humanity detected evidence of helium in the Sun before identifying it here on Earth.
Source: Royal Society of Chemistry — On This Day, Aug. 18: The Solar Spectrum
1920 — Tennessee Makes It 36
On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, reaching the number of states required to add it to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment prohibited denying or abridging voting rights on account of sex, marking a major milestone in the long American campaign for women’s suffrage.
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Extended Forecast for Hastings MN — Accessed August 17, 2026, at 6:53 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service Twin Cities — Area Forecast Discussion — Accessed August 17, 2026, at 6:53 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service — Watches, Warnings & Advisories issued by MPX — Accessed August 17, 2026, at 6:53 p.m. CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society — During the War — Accessed August 17, 2026, at 6:53 p.m. CT.
Royal Society of Chemistry — On This Day, Aug. 18: The Solar Spectrum — Accessed August 17, 2026, at 6:53 p.m. CT.
National Park Service — 19th Amendment By State — Accessed August 17, 2026, at 6:53 p.m. 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.
