The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch until midnight Friday for the DC area. The Washington Harbour management company, MRP Realty, has not raised the flood gates, but is prepared to do so if necesssary.

"We have equipment on site now to raise the gates, so if it is necessary to raise them, we will," wrote Julie Chase, a spokesperson for MRP Realty.

The thunderstorms will impact the region through the evening leaving behind an expected one to two inches of rain. Some areas may receive as many as four inches.

The Washington Harbour depends on the River Desk at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide information about the Potomac River's tides. Chase said the decision to raise the gates "depends on the amount of rain, wind impacting water current and run off upstream."

The NWS suggests that motorists "not drive through standing water and slow down while driving through heavy down pours."