Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Wednesday, March 18th
AI image by HastingsNow.com
Hastings woke up looking like a gray Mississippi postcard this morning: overcast, cold, and definitely still a “grab the real coat” kind of day. At 6:35 a.m., the National Weather Service point forecast for Hastings showed 26°F with a wind chill of 20°F, so downtown coffee and a warm car seat both count as community services today.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: 39°F / 32°F.
Precip chance + timing: 30% chance of rain tonight, mainly before midnight.
Wind: Southwest around 5 mph today; early wind chill was 20°F.
Alerts/hazards: Official alert details were (not provided); the forecast does mention widespread dense fog tonight, mainly 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Today looks fairly manageable once you get past the cold start. Clouds increase through the day, but the daytime setup is quiet overall, with a high near 39 and only a light southwest wind. Tonight is the part to watch: rain chances stay modest, but fog could become the bigger nuisance, especially for evening driving near the river, on Highway 61, or coming home after supper.
What to wear / what to plan
Winter coat this morning; lighter layers may feel better this afternoon.
Daytime errands look easier than late-night driving.
If you’ll be out tonight, slow down and leave extra time in possible fog.
Weather Joke of the Day
Levee Park forecast: jacket now, mystery-movie fog later.
Infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1868 — A regional newspaper got a new identity when Willard S. Whitmore bought the Stillwater Messenger and renamed it the Stillwater Republican. The Minnesota Historical Society notes that the paper went on covering business and daily life in a town that played a leading role in early Minnesota history. Source
1766 — King George III signed assent to repeal the Stamp Act. The Library of Congress notes that London merchants wrote John Hancock that same day, showing how closely trade, taxes, and colonial politics were already tied together before the American Revolution. Source
1965 — Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov performed the world’s first spacewalk during the Voskhod 2 mission. NASA points to March 18, 1965, as the milestone that opened the door to later moonwalks and the kind of hands-on work astronauts now do outside spacecraft and space stations. Source
How we know
National Weather Service — “Hastings MN” — Forecast page — Accessed Mar. 18, 2026, 6:51 a.m. CT. Current conditions on the page were last updated 6:35 a.m. CDT.
Minnesota Historical Society — “The Stillwater Republican” — Link — Accessed Mar. 18, 2026, 6:51 a.m. CT.
Library of Congress — “The Repeal of the Stamp Act” — Link — Accessed Mar. 18, 2026, 6:51 a.m. CT.
NASA — “Gemini IV: Learning to Walk in Space” — Link — Accessed Mar. 18, 2026, 6:51 a.m. CT.
Weather can change quickly, so it’s always smart to check official alerts before heading out.
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