Washington - Heavy snow and freezing temperatures has left thousands of passengers stranded at airports in the northern United States ahead of Thursday's Christmas holidays.

Several airports were forced to cancel flights and delay others on Wednesday, one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was one of the worst hit, with more than 100 flights cancelled, along with Washington state in the north-west of the country.

Heavy snowfalls was also reported in parts of the north-east. Flights out of New York's Joh F Kennedy International Airport were delayed by 2-3 hours. (dpa)