By KRWG News
Texas – Weather experts say this year's epic Texas drought is expected to last another year.
A second consecutive dry winter is on the way because of intensifying conditions in the La Nina (lah-NEEN'-yah) climate phenomenon.
And they say Texas and some surrounding states are prone to long-term drought in the next 10 years based on weather patterns.
But that doesn't mean it will happen.
State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon says there's only a 25 percent chance Texas' drought will persist another five years.
This year's drought already has cost the Texas agriculture and cattle industries more than $5 billion.
Nielsen-Gammon spoke Monday at a climate workshop in Fort Worth. Also speaking about the drought and other weather issues were National Weather Service forecasters and climatologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.