One person was killed and another seriously hurt Saturday in a tornado that tore across Texas, US authorities said.

The National Weather Service, which reported damaged homes in Eastland county, Texas, also issued tornado watches covering parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

In a relatively small area at higher risk for tornadoes were cities such as Arlington, Dallas, Garland, Fort Worth and Plano in Texas, the service added.

Fire Chief Walter Fairbanks told CNN a twister cut a path through Eastland county, and the town of Cisco, in west-central Texas.

He said three houses had been "totaled," and a local fire chief told the broadcaster that several houses had had their roofs blown off.

The central United States is hit by more tornadoes than the rest of the country, but the often destructive weather system has been reported in all 50 states.