Tornadoes tear through central Texas

This debris in Limestone County, Texas, was left by one of several tornadoes in the state Saturday.

THORNTON, Texas (CNN) -- At least five people were injured when tornadoes swept through central Texas Saturday evening, ripping roofs off homes and downing trees and power lines, officials said.

The National Weather Service said at least three tornadoes hit the area south of Fort Worth, part of a fast-moving storm system that was already gone hours later.

"The threat hasn't ended for the Gulf Coast states," said meteorologist Mike Vescio. "It's just winding down for North Texas."

In the small town of Thornton, about 35 miles east of Waco, 20 homes were totaled and other farm-related structures were destroyed, said Limestone County Sheriff Dennis D. Wilson.

The twister took down six towers of a high-line power line, causing at least $1 million in damage and knocking out power to a number of homes, he said. Elsewhere, tractors and cattle trailers were turned over, he said.

"It traveled across our county and it was very evident that it was dipping up and down, from the path of the damage that we saw," said Wilson.

Thornton Mayor James Jackson said it was the first time he had seen a tornado remove the fences surrounding the flat, green farmland.

"This is the worst damage so far from a tornado I've ever seen in this area," Jackson said. "There's some pretty sturdy stuff gone."

Tornadoes also caused damage to Hico, about 60 miles southwest of Fort Worth, said Vescio.

A tornado touched down in Ballinger, south of Abilene, destroying a house as it cut a mile-long swath through the town, said Sgt. Joe Stokes of the Runnels County Sheriff's Office.

"There were no injuries, just a lot of damage," he said, adding the storm took down power poles and trees before it cleared out. "A few stars were out a while ago."

Two tornadoes were sighted in Callahan County, just east of Abilene, but caused little damage, a county sheriff's dispatcher said.