In New York's Times Square, hundreds of thousands crowded amid tight security and special tributes to those who brought relief to the hurricane-devastated city of New Orleans.

Braving freezing temperatures and sleet, close to one million people crammed into the "crossroads of the world" for the traditional centrepiece of New Year celebrations across the United States.

The square erupted in song, cheers and a cloud of confetti after the crowd counted down the last seconds of the year watching the traditional crystal ball make its midnight descent to illuminate the giant numerals 2006.

In New Orleans itself, crowds gathered in the historic French Quarter to bid farewell to a tragic year in which more than 1,000 people were killed in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Storms in California forced the cancellation of a street party in Los Angeles at which pop stars the Black Eyed Peas were to perform. In the San Francisco area, thousands of people were evacuated to shelters due to mudslides and floods.