Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
The original photo of the Mississippi River in Hastings, Minnesota, taken in July 2026, was captured by Ashley Media.
Tuesday starts with one last chance for an early shower, then settles into a cooler and increasingly brighter summer day in Hastings. The afternoon and evening should be much easier for errands, outdoor work, river walks and patio plans.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: High near 76°F; Tuesday night low around 55°F
Precipitation: 30% chance of showers before 7 a.m.
Sky: Partly sunny during the day; partly cloudy Tuesday night
Wind: West-northwest around 10 mph, easing during the evening
A few showers may still be passing through before 7 a.m., following the overnight weather system. Roads and sidewalks could be damp for the earliest commute, but the current point forecast ends the daytime rain chance around daybreak.
Clouds should gradually give way to some sunshine as Tuesday continues. The high near 76°F will feel noticeably cooler than Monday, while a west-northwest wind around 10 mph brings in less humid air. By afternoon, conditions should be comfortable for a downtown walk, outdoor jobs or time near the Mississippi River.
Tuesday evening looks quiet and partly cloudy. The wind should ease from 5–10 mph to light west-northwest overnight as temperatures fall toward 55°F, making a light layer useful for later plans.
What to wear or plan
Keep a light rain jacket nearby for the earliest part of the morning.
Choose comfortable layers for a cooler afternoon and evening.
Allow a little extra stopping room if roads are wet before sunrise.
Plan outdoor activities for later in the morning or afternoon.
Weather Joke of the Day
Tuesday’s showers booked the downtown Hastings early-bird special: arrive before sunrise, leave by 7, and let the sunshine pick up the check.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1790 — The Future Coast Guard Takes Shape
On August 4, 1790, President George Washington signed the law authorizing ten cutters to enforce tariff and trade laws and prevent smuggling. That small maritime force became the Revenue Cutter Service and, after a 1915 merger with the Life-Saving Service, the United States Coast Guard—an enduring institution built around maritime safety, law enforcement and rescue.
Source: U.S. Coast Guard — U.S. Coast Guard History
1944 — The Secret Annex Is Discovered
On August 4, 1944, Anne Frank, the seven others hiding in the Secret Annex and two of their helpers were arrested in Amsterdam after 25 months in hiding. Anne left her diary papers behind; they survived the war and helped generations encounter the Holocaust through the voice and hopes of a 15-year-old aspiring writer.
Source: Anne Frank House — Arrest of Anne Frank 80 Years Ago
2007 — Phoenix Begins Its Journey to Mars
On August 4, 2007, NASA launched the Phoenix Mars Lander from Cape Canaveral aboard a Delta II rocket. Phoenix reached the Martian arctic in May 2008, dug into ice-rich soil and confirmed water ice just below the surface—an important step in studying Mars’s history of water and whether its polar environment might once have supported habitable conditions.
Source: NASA — Mars Phoenix
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings, Minnesota Point Forecast — Accessed August 3, 2026, at 7:14 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service Twin Cities — Area Forecast Discussion — Accessed August 3, 2026, at 7:14 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service Twin Cities — Hazardous Weather Outlook — Accessed August 3, 2026, at 7:14 p.m. CT.
History sources
U.S. Coast Guard — U.S. Coast Guard History — Accessed August 3, 2026, at 7:14 p.m. CT.
Anne Frank House — Arrest of Anne Frank 80 Years Ago — Accessed August 3, 2026, at 7:14 p.m. CT.
NASA — Mars Phoenix — Accessed August 3, 2026, at 7:14 p.m. CT.
Weather can change quickly, especially with summer storms, so readers should check official alerts and radar before heading out.
Once the morning clouds begin to clear, make a little time to enjoy Hastings outdoors today.
