An original HastingsNow.com photo of the Hastings Bridge anchors this AI-assisted illustration of three November 4th moments. The historical scenes are artistic interpretations.
An umbrella earns its spot by the door in Hastings today. Rain is possible on the way to school or work and looks more likely on the way home, with a high near 57°F.
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High and low: Near 57°F Wednesday and around 44°F Wednesday night.
Rain: A 90% chance during the day and again overnight. The afternoon looks wetter than the early morning.
Wind: Generally 5–10 mph during the day, then northwest around 10 mph at night.
Rainfall: A tenth to a quarter of an inch is possible during the day, with a similar amount possible Wednesday night.
The morning starts in the low 50s. Of the two school trips, the ride in has the lower rain chance. There’s still a chance of light rain around breakfast, and it grows through much of the morning.
By lunchtime, temperatures should reach the mid-50s. They’ll stay close to that mark for much of the afternoon, with rain looking especially likely around school pickup. If you’re running errands downtown, even a short walk back to the car is worth planning for.
Rain stays in the forecast Wednesday evening. A northwest breeze and a low around 44°F will make the trip home feel cooler than the trip out, especially in a damp sweatshirt.
What to wear or plan
A light rain shell over a sweater gives you a dry outer layer for the walk and something comfortable once you’re indoors.
Shoes that keep water out are a good pick for school pickup or a walk along the river.
For evening plans, a dry pair of socks in the car might be the best use of those last two inches of glove-box space.
Weather Joke of the Day
I took my umbrella for a walk at Levee Park. Now it’s by the door like a dog that knows it’s going out again.
Weather + On This Date by HastingsNow.com
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1930 — Minnesota gives Floyd B. Olson a second look
On November 4, 1930, Minnesotans elected Floyd B. Olson governor with 59 percent of the vote in a three-way race. The date might have looked familiar to Olson. Exactly six years earlier, on November 4, 1924, he had run for the same office on the Farmer-Labor ticket and lost with 44 percent.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society — Floyd B. Olson
1922 — One stone step offers a clue in Egypt
On November 4, 1922, Howard Carter’s excavation team uncovered a single step cut into bedrock in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. The next day, the team reached a sealed doorway. It took until November 26 for Carter to peer by candlelight into the room beyond a second doorway and see the furniture and chariots buried with Tutankhamun.
Source: University of Oxford, Griffith Institute — First Excavation Season, 1922–1923
1879 — A saloon keeper helps invent the cash register
On November 4, 1879, a U.S. patent was issued for an early cash register. Ohio saloon keeper James Ritty wanted a way to keep track of purchases and make sure the money customers handed across the counter stayed with the business. The paper roll that let a shopkeeper look back over sales came later.
Source: Library of Congress — Patent for the Cash Register Issued
How we know
Weather sources
National Weather Service — Hastings period forecast — Accessed November 3, 2026, at 4:35 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service — Hastings hourly forecast — Accessed November 3, 2026, at 4:35 p.m. CT.
National Weather Service — Active alerts for Hastings — Accessed November 3, 2026, at 4:34 p.m. CT.
History sources
Minnesota Historical Society — Floyd B. Olson — Accessed November 3, 2026, at 4:35 p.m. CT.
University of Oxford, Griffith Institute — First Excavation Season, 1922–1923 — Accessed November 3, 2026, at 4:35 p.m. CT.
Library of Congress — Patent for the Cash Register Issued — Accessed November 3, 2026, at 4:34 p.m. CT.
Weather can change quickly, especially with summer storms, so readers should check official alerts and radar before heading out.
Tuck an umbrella into the bag you’ll have with you for the trip home.
