Importantly,
The remnant low continued westward across the northwestern Caribbean Sea during
the next couple of days. By 15 December, the non-convective low moved northwestward and
northward around the western periphery of a low- to mid-level ridge. Later that day and early on
16 December, the remnants of Olga accelerated northeastward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico
ahead of an approaching cold front, producing somewhat organized thunderstorm activity.
Satellite imagery and radar data from Tampa, Florida suggested that a small circulation crossed
the west-central coast of Florida just north of Tampa around 1000 UTC 16 December. During
that time, Olga’s remnants interacted with an intense squall line that stretched across north
central Florida. While post-analysis does not indicate that redevelopment into a tropical cyclone
occurred, the remnants of Olga in conjunction with the cold front and pre-frontal squall line
produced sustained winds of tropical storm force with gusts to hurricane force in Clearwater
Beach, Florida. Within two hours of Olga’s remnants reaching the west central coast of Florida,
the remnants were absorbed by the cold front.
