Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Original photo by Ashley Media
Wednesday starts a little misty around Hastings, then settles into a warm, mostly sunny August day. Patchy fog should clear early, with temperatures climbing near 86°F before clouds increase overnight.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Near 86°F Wednesday, then around 66°F Wednesday night.
Fog: Patchy fog before about 7 a.m.
Precipitation: No daytime rain is in the current point forecast; a 20% chance of showers appears between about 1 and 2 a.m. Thursday.
Wind: Calm early, becoming southeast around 5 mph; Wednesday night turns northeast around 5 mph before becoming calm.
The morning begins with patchy fog before about 7 a.m., so the earliest commute or riverfront drive may have a few reduced-visibility spots. After the fog lifts, the National Weather Service expects mostly sunny skies.
By afternoon, Hastings should warm to a high near 86°F. Winds stay light, becoming southeast around 5 mph, so the day looks well suited for normal errands, outdoor work, a downtown stop or some time along the Mississippi River once the early fog is gone.
Wednesday evening starts dry in the point forecast while clouds gradually increase overnight. The low should settle around 66°F, with a slight 20% chance of showers between about 1 and 2 a.m. Thursday; a northeast breeze around 5 mph should become calm during the evening.
What to wear or plan
Use a little extra caution on the earliest drive if patchy fog is still hanging around.
Light summer clothing should work well once the morning fog clears.
Sunscreen and water will be useful for longer afternoon outdoor plans.
If you will be out very late, keeping a light rain layer nearby would cover the small overnight shower chance.
Weather Joke of the Day
Why did the fog leave Levee Park before breakfast? It heard Hastings had reserved the sunshine for the rest of Wednesday.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1990 — SUE the T. rex Is Unearthed in South Dakota
On August 12, 1990, fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson unearthed the Tyrannosaurus rex later named SUE in South Dakota. The Field Museum says SUE’s story eventually carried the fossil from its rocky resting place to the museum spotlight, where millions of visitors have seen it and scientists have studied it for clues about how T. rex lived.
Source: Field Museum — Field Museum’s Post: SUE Turns 35
1898 — The United States and Spain Sign a Peace Protocol
On August 12, 1898, representatives of the United States and Spain signed a protocol in Washington laying out terms for establishing peace. The agreement called for hostilities to be suspended and set the framework for peace commissioners to meet in Paris, an important turning point toward formally ending the Spanish-American War.
1960 — Echo 1 Sends Communications Into a New Era
On August 12, 1960, NASA successfully launched Echo 1A, a 100-foot Mylar balloon designed to reflect communications signals across long distances. The passive satellite helped demonstrate early satellite telephone, radio and television links and became an imaginative milestone in the development of communications in space.
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings, Minnesota Point Forecast — Accessed August 11, 2026, at 5:45 PM CT.
History sources
Field Museum — Field Museum’s Post: SUE Turns 35 — Accessed August 11, 2026, at 5:45 PM CT.
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian — Protocol of Agreement Between the United States and Spain — Accessed August 11, 2026, at 5:45 PM CT.
NASA — 50 Years of Communications in Space — Accessed August 11, 2026, at 5:45 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 Wednesday after the early fog lifts.
