Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Original photo by Ashley Media
Wednesday looks like a hot, mostly sunny Hastings day, with a smoky stretch around midday and only a small late-afternoon storm chance. Most plans should remain workable, but the afternoon will feel unmistakably like midsummer.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: Near 90°F during the day and 68°F Wednesday night
Conditions: Sunny, with patchy smoke between about 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Rain: 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m.
Wind: Calm early, becoming south-southwest around 5 mph during the afternoon
Wednesday morning should begin sunny and calm. Patchy smoke is forecast to move through between about 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., which may give the sky a hazier appearance around downtown Hastings, the Mississippi River and the bridge.
Temperatures will climb toward 90°F during the afternoon. A light south-southwest breeze should develop, while a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms enters the forecast after 3 p.m. That means most of Hastings may stay dry, but a brief passing storm cannot be ruled out.
Any small rain chance should fade around the beginning of the evening. Wednesday night is expected to become mostly clear, with a south wind around 5 mph and an overnight low near 68°F.
What to wear or plan
Choose lightweight, breathable clothing for the hot afternoon.
Bring water for outdoor work, sports, errands or longer river walks.
People who are sensitive to smoke may prefer their longest outdoor activities earlier in the morning.
Keep flexible plans for late afternoon in case an isolated shower or thunderstorm develops.
Weather Joke of the Day
Why did the Hastings bridge pack sunglasses and an umbrella on Wednesday? It heard the forecast was serving 90 degrees with a 20% chance of changing its mind.
AI infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1932 — Minnesota Farmers Build a Depression-Era Movement
On July 29, 1932, John H. Bosch founded a Minnesota branch of the Farmers’ Holiday Association. During the Great Depression, the movement encouraged farmers to withhold crops and livestock from markets in hopes of improving deeply depressed prices. Minnesota members later organized against farm foreclosures and joined a 20,000-person march at the State Capitol.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society — Farmers’ Holiday Association in Minnesota
1948 — The Olympics Return in Postwar London
The London Olympic Games opened at Wembley Stadium on July 29, 1948. They were the first Summer Olympics held in twelve years after the 1940 and 1944 Games were canceled during World War II. Remembered as the “Austerity Games,” the event relied heavily on existing venues while giving athletes from around the world another opportunity to gather and compete.
Source: International Olympic Committee — London 1948 Summer Olympics
1958 — A Signature Creates NASA
On July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act into law, creating NASA. The new civilian organization was established amid the accelerating space race following the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik. NASA officially opened for business on October 1 and began a new chapter in American science, aviation and space exploration.
Source: NASA — The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 Creates NASA
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings, Minnesota Point Forecast — Accessed July 28, 2026, at 8:31 p.m. CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society — Farmers’ Holiday Association in Minnesota — Accessed July 28, 2026, at 8:31 p.m. CT.
International Olympic Committee — London 1948 Summer Olympics — Accessed July 28, 2026, at 8:31 p.m. CT.
NASA — The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 Creates NASA — Accessed July 28, 2026, at 8:31 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 late-afternoon or early-evening plans.
