Mecklenburg and its surrounding counties are under a tornado watch until 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, according to the National Weather Service. Among the other North Carolina counties included in the watch: Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell and Lincoln counties, forecasters say.

A tornado watch was issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 10:57 p.m. in effect until Sunday at 4 a.m. for DeKalb, Jackson, Madison and Marshall counties.

A tornado warning has been issued across the southern United States as a dangerous storm system threatens structures.

One person died as one of those tornadoes swept through Texas' Brazoria County, south of Houston, according to officials. The National Weather Service has issued a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Tornado Watch that covers nearly 2.

A tornado that touched down in Brazoria County struck some homes and other structures on Saturday, the authorities said. It was a day of tornado warnings in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

One tornado swirled through fields near El Campo, Texas, on Thursday, about midway between Houston and Victoria. Another twister touched down near Atascocita in Harris County, then moved over Lake Houston.