In typical Manchester fashion, the heavens opened an hour before England's Lionesses kicked off their Women's Euro 2022 campaign with the eyes of the world on Old Trafford.
And in typical Manchester fashion, that didn't dampen the party atmosphere outside Old Trafford one bit - it just moved the party inside. With the ground filling up, the rain was soon replaced by residual smoke from a pyrotechnic display to open the tournament, with the Lionesses continuing the show over the next two hours.
As England depart Manchester with a hard-fought victory to begin their Euro campaign, they will have almost certainly left a lasting impression on the record-breaking crowd who came to cheer them on - this was a UEFA Women's Euro record attendance of over 68,000, also setting a record for women's football in Manchester in the process.
ALSO READ: England player ratings as Lionesses secure Women's Euro 2022 opener win over Austria
This isn't the kind of atmosphere Old Trafford is used to, especially in recent years, thanks to United's inconsistency and off-field dramas. So there was an unfamiliar sight of smiles on faces walking up to the ground, and a rarely-felt sense of hope and optimism and genuine belief in the home team. Naturally, crowds in women's football are less tribal than this stadium would usually attract, with a much younger demographic and plenty more families adding to the positive mood.
That is exactly the kind of crowd organisers want to attract, though, and it will please them how many young girls seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves in the stands and getting behind the Lionesses. They were here for a party and to enjoy the football, and they started early.
They were rewarded with an opening goal for England, but only after some Austrian pressure from the start threatened to derail the atmosphere that had been building. However, when Fran Kirby chipped a lovely ball through to Beth Mead in the area, who took a touch and lobbed over the goalkeeper, the volume rose considerably - and again after a VAR check confirmed the ball had crossed the line and Mead was onside.
In the stands, a Mexican wave started, before phones lit up around the stadium as if it were a pop concert. There were pantomime boos at points, too, with the critics already starting to pipe up on social media about why people enjoying themselves at a football game was somehow a bad thing.
But if this tournament is about inspiring young girls that football can be a viable career - and things like Mexican waves are what keep them entertained along with the football on the pitch - then the inevitable sneerers will be missing the point spectacularly.
At the break, the crowd were dancing on their feet to the halftime entertainment, and there was a refreshingly positive vibe throughout. England's performance helped, too, with plenty of attacking intent and chances in search of a second goal. Despite their best efforts, it just didn't come, although a clean sheet and three points to open the group stage will be happily accepted, even if there are clear areas to improve.
These fans need their heroes, with Mead's finish popular and Lucy Bronze always raising the noise levels when she got the ball - as did Lauren Hemp. The biggest cheer, though, was when United fan and Reds no.10 Ella Toone was introduced on the hour mark, along with club teammate Alessia Russo at their 'home' stadium.
It wasn't just noise provided from the crowd, though, as goalscorer Mead said that she struggled to hear manager Sarina Wiegman in the post-match huddle in the pitch, which was echoed by departing City midfielder Georgia Stanway.
"An unbelievable day, the atmosphere speaks for itself, the people who turned up was amazing," she said.
"It was hard to hear information from the side, hard to hear Keira shouting from behind. It shows where we're at, that's the standard the fans have set, we need that at every game. We need the noise, and that can rattle opposition."
Wiegman added: "They were incredible, no more words," she said. "Where we've come from, playing at Old Trafford, nearly 70,ooo peope making LOTS of noise behind us. I hope they'll keep coming."
By the end, two Mancunians and seven Manchester-based players had featured for England - showing those budding young Manc footballers in the stands that there is a genuine pathway to follow in their footsteps. Ask most of these Lionesses, and that hasn't always been a realistic option for young girls.
Combine the engaging football with the clear effort from organisers to keep the crowd entertained at every opportunity, and UEFA may have stumbled on a recipe for success in their aims of creating a tournament that will have a lasting legacy on women's football in this country.
In return, the Manchester crowd set the standard for what could be achieved in this home Euros. If the Lionesses can take them all the way to a Wembley final later this month, it would be a run very much ignited by a thoroughly enjoyable party at Old Trafford - even if it was raining.
READ NEXT:
