It has become known for its sodden paddocks as much as the performers, but, after years of rain, the Glastonbury Festival could finally escape its muddy reputation.

Weather forecasters say that while this weekend’s Somerset festival will be a windy affair, it is unlikely to descend into the mud baths of recent years.

Met Office spokesperson Helen Chivers predicts gusty winds with a small amount of rain for the three-day event: “There will be a few showers about but it doesn’t look as though they will be too heavy or hang about”.

When the festival opens on Friday, revellers who have skipped off work to see the opening acts, including The Gossip, Kings of Leon and Kate Nash, will battle to put up tents in westerly winds, teamed with cloudy skies and light showers.

The next day, as anticipation builds for controversial headliner Jay-Z’s Saturday night slot, the temperature will heat up to 19º. Although mostly dry, the westerly wind will continue to blow and there could be a spot of rain. By Sunday, revellers will enjoy some sunny spells mixed with showers and yet more wind.

After years of torrential rain, the moderate forecast will be music to the ears of Glastonbury organisers.

Revellers at last year’s festival endured heavy downpours and, despite extensive new flood defence barriers and engineering works, muddy conditions. Arcade Fire took to the stage and compared the chaos to scenes from downtown Calcutta, while one festival-goer said she contracted trench foot from the poor conditions.

The 2005 festival was worse – with storms hitting Worthy Farm, washing away 300 tents.

Organisers have blamed their struggle to sell all 137,500 tickets to this weekend’s event on the poor weather of recent years. This morning 3,000 tickets remained unsold.

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010