Thunder rumbled outside as Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. heard the flooding forecast for the state first-hand Friday during a visit to the National Weather Service offices.

Seated before a bank of computers showing satellite, radar and modeled images of the wet weather patterns hovering over the state, Huntsman was told that further flooding was possible but not probable over the next few days.

"We should all remain vigilant," the governor said after a briefing from hydrologist Brian McInerney. Huntsman said it is important to continue to follow the weather's "unpredictable patterns at a time when we're already waterlogged."

The state stands ready to help local governments should more flooding occur, he said, with access to 250,000 sandbags and assistance from the state Department of Public Safety and Utah Department of Transportation.

Flood watches are in effect for the rivers in and near Cache Valley and for southern Utah, said Andrew Church, a forecaster for the National Weather Service. He said the watches should be lifted this morning and remain that way until thunderstorms return Monday evening.

Today's forecast, he said, will be comparable to Friday's — mostly cloudy with a lot of rain showers lasting into the evening hours.

"It should be hit and miss all day," he said.

McInerney said the biggest threat right now is from thunderstorms. He rated the chances of flooding this weekend a 6, on a scale of 1 to 10, and said the risk is likely to decrease for the early part of next week.

"Conditions are possible. They're not probable" for flooding, the hydrologist said. That could change should thunderstorms hit hard over the next few days. "That's more of a wild card," he said.

A much needed break is expected for Sunday, with only a few showers spotting the state in the early hours and mountain areas, Church said. Overall, he said, Sunday's forecast shows a "slight warming trend that should last through Monday."

Long term, though, the state may well face more flooding. Earlier this year, swollen waters in southern Utah swept away homes. More recently, heavy rains led to problems in Utah County and parts of northern Utah.

The chances of future flooding grow as cooler temperatures keep the heavy snowpack from melting. "The window of opportunity of getting out of this without any flooding is small," McInerney said.

Church said Monday is expected to be breezy but warm, that is, until a cold front moves in bringing more thunderstorms and windy conditions. The cold air could bring snow to the bench areas by early Wednesday morning.

The month is looking to be atypical for spring in Utah, Church said. Temperatures are expected to make a gradual climb throughout the month, with a potential for highs in the 90s at the end of May. The increase in temperatures may facilitate snowmelt that could add to the increased flooding concerns.

Lawmakers came up with a $25 million-plus aid package for southern Utah during the 2005 Legislature. The much-publicized assistance to help rebuild roads and other infrastructure could end up being a grant.

Huntsman said he is in contact with leaders of Cedar Hills in Utah County and other northern Utah communities hit by flooding. So far, though, none has asked for state financial help, the governor said. "It's just too early to tell" whether it will be needed, he said.

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