Yesterday's foul weather in the final stages of the countdown to Carnival 2006 should not serve to put a dampener on the activities that kick off today and are being held over the weekend.
The dismal curtain raiser should open up onto a brighter day, despite strong, westerly winds and the possibility of rain, according to the Meteorological Office.
Duty forecaster Mario Abdilla predicted sunny intervals today - an improvement on yesterday's overcast skies. Temperatures would also be normal for this time of the year, 15°C, so anyone planning to wear a skimpy costume should not be put off.
The wind may not remain as strong tomorrow, although the possibility of showers and clouds exist, Mr Abdilla said. Sunday, however, looks most promising, with sunny spells and less wind, only to give way to bad weather once again on Monday and even more so on Tuesday.
Those planning to cross the channel for the Nadur carnival - and many will do so - can expect rough seas today and throughout the weekend.
The weather often fails to smile on carnival weekend, even if the run-up to it has been bright and warm. Maybe it is for this reason that the carnival committee has always adopted a show-must-go-on attitude and would be taking decisions on a "day-by-day and hour-by-hour" basis as it has always done. Any decisions to cancel anything would not be made before the eleventh hour, committee coordinator George Zahra said.
Although he was not too fazed by the predictions, he did point out that the weather has meant spending more than anticipated. Additional costs were due to the number of containers required to break the wind and protect the floats where they are being built and stored.
The adverse conditions were more damaging before carnival, when the floats were being created, than during, Mr Zahra said.
The areas that are hardest hit by strong winds are normally Great Siege and Giloramo Cassar roads, which the floats travel along on their way to the city centre. But the necessary precautions would be taken, he continued. At most, if the winds are howling today, the defilé may be scaled down, he said.
Meanwhile, final preparations were underway yesterday at Fort St Elmo and down at Pinto Wharf. Freedom Square has been decked out for the activities, which start tomorrow until next Tuesday, and St George's Square has been cleared out for the events.
These kick off at 5.30 p.m. today, with the dance competitions between the various companies in Freedom Square. A defilé, including King Carnival, starts from St George's Square at 6 p.m. to enter Freedom Square at 7.15 p.m., and the event comes to a close at 8.20 p.m.
Tomorrow's programme starts off with the children's carnival in Freedom Square at 9.30 a.m., as well as a colourful defilé, including the Furtu Selvatico School Band. Activities resume at 2.30 p.m. until 6.50 p.m., with parades between St George's and Freedom Square and dance competitions galore.
Mr Zahra was anticipating a "big spectacle" and harsh competition. "We have seen many of the floats, so we know what to expect. The standards are high and the contest should be neck and neck."
He said bookings for the dances in Freedom Square - 23 in all - were going well.
The carnival committee, part of the National Folklore Commission, has joined forces with an association of participants and was collaborating successfully on all fronts, Mr Zahra added.