Howard County Heat Advisory — 2026-07-17

A heat advisory blankets Howard County today as temperatures climb near 90 and smoke lingers in the air. Here's what else is happening across the county this Friday.

Watch, listen, or read the full brief →

In today's brief

quick-weather

Friday morning: smoke, high near 90 degrees.

Cold Open

Morning, Howard County — it's Friday, July 17th. Today: a heat advisory as temps push near 90, so plan around the afternoon sun. Dumont Creamery and Cafe is open now in Woodstock for ice cream and boba. County Executive Ball is urgently looking for volunteers for the Transportation Board. And an Ellicott City man called police on himself after learning his own car got stolen while he was out burglarizing.

Top Story

Howard County is under a heat advisory today as temperatures climb near 90 degrees. The county health department issued the advisory in response to the high heat moving through the region this week. The National Weather Service forecasts mostly sunny skies for Friday, with smoke in the air and a light north wind.

HCPSS Watch

The Howard County Board of Education is looking to fill one opening on the school system's Ethics Panel. HCPSS is seeking a citizen member willing to serve. Application details are posted on the district's news site.

Permit of the Week

Complete Street improvements begin along Cradlerock Way in Columbia. The work is part of the county's ongoing Complete Streets program, adding safety and accessibility upgrades to the corridor. Details are posted on the county's news site.

restaurant-pick

Dumont Creamery and Cafe opened last month in Woodstock's Waverly Woods Village Center, serving ice cream and boba — a new sweet stop on the county's west side.

hoco-moment

Over on r/HowardCountyMD, locals are answering the unofficial welcome-wagon question: what's the one piece of advice you'd give someone moving to Howard County? The thread's still running, with tips ranging from traffic patterns to where to actually make friends. Worth a scroll if you're new — or just nosy.

coming-up

Three things to have on your radar this week. The Howard County Department of Public Works is holding a community meeting on proposed improvements to the Whiskey Bottom Road intersection — time and location are posted on the county's website. Manor Hill Brewing's Pizza Trolley rolls out Friday, July 24th, serving Neapolitan-style pizza from a restored trolley car in Ellicott City.

quick-hits

In Columbia, the Sheriff's Office added AI translation technology to its body-worn cameras this week. In Ellicott City, a man called police last month after learning his own car was stolen while he was out burglarizing — WMAR called it 'karma.' In Elkridge, a firefighter was hospitalized after crews battled a house fire this week. Statewide, Maryland's Tax-Free Week starts August 9th, with a contest to win $1,000 in back-to-school savings.

Read the full brief with sources →

Get the morning brief

One email, every morning at 5:30 AM. Schools, county council, permits, weekend plans — in five minutes.

Previous briefs

About HoCo Brief

What is HoCo Brief?

HoCo Brief is an independent daily news brief covering Howard County, Maryland — including Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Clarksville, and Laurel. Each morning we cover county government, HCPSS schools, public safety, development permits, weather, and weekend events in about five minutes.

When does a new brief come out?

A new episode publishes every morning at 5:30 AM Eastern, seven days a week. You can watch it on YouTube, listen as a podcast, or read the full text of every story right here on the site.

Where does the news come from?

Stories are gathered from official Howard County sources — county government releases, the Howard County Public School System, county police and fire, permit filings, and local event calendars — with a link to the original source under every story.

Is HoCo Brief affiliated with Howard County Government?

No. HoCo Brief is independent and is not affiliated with Howard County Government or HCPSS. We link to official sources so you can always read the originals.