With Australia on the brink of a defeat that would leave the series level at 2-2, it started raining on Friday night in Manchester and is not forecast to stop until Sunday afternoon.
Further rain is also expected for Sunday evening, offering Australia some hope of holding on for a draw after slumping to 4-113 and still needing 162 more runs to make England bat again.
A draw would ensure Australia retain the Ashes as current holders, taking a 2-1 lead into the series finale at The Oval on Thursday.
That, however, would be an incredibly hollow result for the tourists given they have been outplayed at Old Trafford.
Seamer Josh Hazlewood admitted on Friday night he was hopeful that rain could help Australia's plight.
"I'd be very pleased (if it rained)," Hazlewood said.
"It's obviously forecast and forecasts can change all the time. Obviously rain and light plays a big part in cricket and has done forever.
"So yeah, it'd be great to lose a few overs here and there and make our job a little easier of hanging in there. That's pretty obvious."
If the rain does continue, England may live to regret batting so long into day three after beginning the morning with a lead of 67.
Buoyed by Jonny Bairstow's big hitting with an unbeaten 81-ball 99, England opted to bat out their innings and extend their lead to 275.
It limited the hosts to 41 overs of bowling at Australia on Friday afternoon, with slow over-rates throughout the match again not helping their cause.
England will believe they may need as little as one session to bowl Australia out and win the match, but the biggest question will be whether the Manchester weather allows that.
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