As we mentioned already, tonight is the annual National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse. The event starts at 5 p.m., and if you’ve never ended up stuck in the horror show that is downtown traffic near the White House during this event, be forewarned: it’s always a disaster. Road closures, parking restrictions, and streams of pedestrians filling the adjacent streets will all combine tonight for a nice big chorus of honking horns to go along with those silver bells. So take note of all these advisories, and if your office is anywhere in the vicinity, ask if you can go home early today.

Road Closures:
Beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m., DDOT plans to close down traffic on 15th Street NW between E Street/Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue, as well as on 17th Street NW between Constitution Avenue and New York Avenue. That should last until about 8:30 or 9 p.m.

Parking Restrictions:
Parking has been restricted since 6 a.m. this morning on those same stretches of 15th and 17th, and those restrictions will continue until at least 9 p.m. tonight.

Metrobus Detours:
WMATA is warning bus riders to expect delays and possible detours on 37 different routes between at least 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. this evening. Riders of the following Metrobus routes should be prepared for delays and sudden route changes: 3Y, 11Y, 13A, 13B, 16Y, 32, 36, 37, 38B, 39, 42, 43, 52, 53, 54, 80, D1, D3, D5, D6, G8, H1, L1, L2, N2, N3, N4, P1, P17, P19, S1, S2, S4, S9, W13, X1 and X2.

If you think your bus may be affected, there are more details here. The best general advice if you are looking to catch a bus home in this area tonight is to walk north of K Street before trying to board. Most of the mess should be cleared up north of K.