(Washington, DC) The National Weather Service has downgraded its forecast for today, and is now calling for less than an inch of rain on Friday and Saturday. However, District residents are still cautioned to clean gutters, downspouts and window wells and clear flat roofed structures of snow. The weight of the snow combined with the additional moisture from even an inch of rain may be sufficient to cause the roof of a flat-roof structure to collapse.

In anticipation of the rain and warmer temperatures forecast for the weekend, the Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) has crews cleaning sewer catch basins in several flood-prone neighborhoods in order to accommodate the rain and snowmelt runoff. Emergency response agencies have been notified and are on standby in case the weather worsens.

DC Mayor Anthony Williams said, "Although the amount of rain forecast for the District has been downgraded, as a precaution, we have filled 500 sand bags and we have more bags and sand in case we need them.

District residents should still remain alert to the possibility of some flooding, particularly in low-lying areas. They should know the meanings of the following terms and what to do if they hear them: