Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Wednesday, February 18
AI image by HastingsNow.com
Fog and a little mist to start the day? That’s basically the Mississippi River saying, “Good morning, Hastings.” If you’re headed downtown or out by Levee Park, plan for a wintry mix that turns into snow—and a wind that means business.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
Early check: the nearest NWS reporting station (KSGS) showed fog/mist and 41°F at 4:55 a.m. CST.
At a glance
High / Low: 46°F (then falling) / 30°F tonight
Precip chance + timing: 80% — mix of rain/snow before noon, then snow (snow most likely to wrap up before ~7 p.m.)
Wind: West-southwest 15–20 mph, gusts up to 35 mph (expect it to feel cooler once temps start dropping)
Alerts/hazards: No watches/warnings/advisories were listed on the NWS point forecast page at the last update (it does link to a Hazardous Weather Outlook).
Forecast last updated by NWS at 4:37 a.m. CST.
Plain-English forecast (morning → afternoon → evening)
Morning starts on the mild side, but don’t get too attached—temperatures are forecast to fall toward the mid-30s by early afternoon. The main “will it?” question today: Will it switch to snow? The forecast says yes—a rain/snow mix in the morning should turn into snow after noon.
By late afternoon and early evening, snow is still possible, and the gusty wind could make the riverfront (and the Hastings bridge) feel extra brisk. The bright spot: little or no accumulation is expected today, and less than a half-inch is possible tonight.
What to wear / what to plan
Wind-blocking outer layer (today is a “zip it up” day)
Waterproof shoes/boots for slushy patches
Give yourself a little extra time on bridges, hills, and parking lots
If you’re walking near the river, keep gloves handy—gusts love snatching them
Weather Joke of the Day
If the gusts on the Hastings bridge steal your hat, just call it a ‘local weather donation.’
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1931 — Former Minnesota governor William Rush Merriam died on February 18, 1931. He served as Minnesota’s governor from 1889–1893 and later directed the twelfth U.S. census before retiring to Florida. (Source:
https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/person/merriam-william-rush-1849-1931)1865 — Charleston, South Carolina, surrendered to Union forces on February 18, 1865, after evacuations began the day before. The city had been under siege since 1863, and this moment came late in the Civil War. (Source:
https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/february-18/)1930 — Pluto was first recognized when Clyde Tombaugh reviewed glass photographic plates on February 18, 1930, at Lowell Observatory—the discovery that introduced Pluto to the world. (Source:
https://lowell.edu/discover/telescopes-exhibits/pluto-discovery-telescope/)
How we know
National Weather Service — Point Forecast: Hastings MN —
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.7281&lon=-92.8577— Accessed Feb 18, 2026, 5:08 a.m. CTLibrary of Congress — Today in History - February 18 —
https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/february-18/— Accessed Feb 18, 2026, 5:08 a.m. CTMinnesota Historical Society (MNopedia) — Merriam, William Rush (1849–1931) —
https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/person/merriam-william-rush-1849-1931— Accessed Feb 18, 2026, 5:08 a.m. CTLowell Observatory — Pluto Discovery Telescope —
https://lowell.edu/discover/telescopes-exhibits/pluto-discovery-telescope/— Accessed Feb 18, 2026, 5:08 a.m. CT
Weather can change quickly—especially on “mix to snow” days—so treat this as a snapshot and check the NWS page for the latest updates and any official alerts.
If this helped, share it with a neighbor.
