1 million celebrate New Year in New York

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Strong winds, frigid weather and blowing snow helped celebrators from around the world usher in 2009 Wednesday night in New York's Times Square.

The estimated 100 million viewers tuning in to the televised event nationwide may be grateful they stayed home; temperatures could drop into the low teens, and wind gusts could reach as high as 44 mph.

The frigid conditions didn't deter one iReporter from filing a report at an iReport kiosk: '"We're down here in Times Square and we're having the time of our life. This is our first time." Victor Tate, of Virginia, said.

Despite a winter weather advisory in effect for much of the day in New York City and well into this evening's celebrations, more than 1 million people were expected to crowd Times Square, according to the Times Square Alliance.

It's a tradition that began more than 100 years ago, with a ball made from iron and wood and covered with about 100 light bulbs -- a far cry from this year's massive, crystal-coated ball.

Weighing in at 11,875 pounds (5,386 kilograms), it's double the size of previous balls.

It includes 2,668 Waterford crystals, 32,256 LED lights, and has a palette of more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns available. iReport.com: Couple tries to watch ball drop, gives up due to cold

Sen. Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton were on hand to help New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg push the button for the ball drop at 11:59 p.m., and throughout the night, revelers will be treated to musical performances by the Jonas Brothers, Ludacris, Taylor Swift, Parachute, the USO and Lionel Richie. See New Year's Eve celebrations around the world »

And, as is tradition, confetti and fireworks will help continue the celebration after midnight, according to the Times Square Alliance.

Hours before the ball was to drop in New York's Times Square, New Year's celebrations took place around the world and even in outer space. iReport.com: Show us your New Year's party

"The crew of the international space station would like to wish everyone on beautiful planet Earth Happy New Year," Commander Mike Fincke said.

President Bush will spend a quiet night at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, while President-elect Barack Obama will ring in the New Year at a rental house on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

New Year's festivities took a tragic turn in Bangkok, Thailand, where at least 59 people were killed in a fire that broke out early Thursday at one of Bangkok's most upscale nightclubs, where about 1,000 revelers were welcoming in 2009, Thai police said.

In New York, security inside Times Square is expected to be tight, and the public will see heavy police presence -- both uniformed and not uniformed -- on the ground, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told CNN's "American Morning."

In addition, Kelly said the New York City Police Department will have counter-terrorism overlay posts, radiation and biological weapons detectors, and helicopters to help patrol the crowds.

"We urge people not to bring packages, backpacks, certainly no alcohol. We'll have a very aggressive DWI enforcement program, and we urge people to take mass transit," Kelly said. Watch fireworks in Hong Kong »

"It's going to be a happy, peaceful, festive event."

All About Times Square • New York City Police Department