Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Wednesday, May 6th
AI image by HastingsNow.com
It’s a crisp one in Hastings this morning — the kind of early-May day where downtown looks ready for spring, but your windshield says, “Not so fast.” Expect a cool, mostly sunny Wednesday with frost early, a light-to-steady west-northwest breeze, and a good excuse to keep the jacket handy near the river.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: High near 52°F; low tonight around 35°F
Precipitation:(not provided); no precipitation is listed in the Wednesday forecast text
Wind:West-northwest 5 to 15 mph
Alerts / hazards:Widespread frost mainly before 7 a.m.; areas of frost may return after 5 a.m. Thursday
Wednesday starts cold, with widespread frost mainly before 7 a.m. That means tender plants, car windshields, and early dog walks all get a chilly little hello.
After the frosty start, Hastings should turn mostly sunny and cool, with a high near 52°F. The west-northwest wind will add a crisp edge, especially around open spots like Levee Park, the bridge area, and the riverfront. Tonight turns partly cloudy, with another round of late-night/early-morning frost possible by Thursday.
What to wear / what to plan
Wear a jacket or warm layer for the morning commute.
Cover or bring in tender plants if you already jumped into garden mode.
Afternoon walks downtown or by the river should be dry, bright, and cool.
Keep the patio dreams alive — just maybe not in shorts yet.
Weather Joke of the Day
The west-northwest breeze is keeping Hastings so crisp today, even the Mississippi looks like it brought a cardigan to Levee Park.
Infographic by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1901 — Charles Joy makes the first automobile ascent of St. Paul’s Selby Hill. MNopedia notes Joy climbed the famously steep hill at about eight to ten miles per hour — which sounds slow today, but in 1901 it was basically “Minnesota Fast & Curious.”
1935 — President Franklin D. Roosevelt establishes the Works Progress Administration. Executive Order 7034, dated May 6, 1935, created the Works Progress Administration as part of a federal work-relief program during the Great Depression.
1949 — EDSAC performs its first calculation. The Computer History Museum notes that the British EDSAC computer performed its first calculation on May 6, 1949, becoming an early practical stored-program computer at Cambridge University.
How we know
National Weather Service — “Point Forecast: Hastings MN.” Forecast text provided for Hastings, MN; forecast updated 5:38 a.m. CT; accessed Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 5:40 a.m. CT.
Minnesota Historical Society / MNopedia — “This Day in Minnesota History.” Accessed Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 5:40 a.m. CT.
The American Presidency Project — “Executive Order 7034—Establishing… the Works Progress Administration…” Accessed Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 5:40 a.m. CT.
Computer History Museum — “May 6: British Computer EDSAC Performs First Calculation.” Accessed Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 5:40 a.m. CT.
Weather can change quickly, so readers should check official National Weather Service alerts before travel, outdoor work, or sensitive planting plans.
If this helped, share it with a neighbor or subscribe to HastingsNow.
