Tropical Storm Olga was a short-lived tropical cyclone that caused unexpected severe damage as a non-tropical system along its track across the Central United States in late October 2019. The storm began as a distinct tropical wave that moved off Africa on October 8 and organized into a tropical storm over the Bay of Campeche early on October 25. It moved north-northeast, transitioning into an extratropical cyclone within 12 hours. The remnants of the cyclone made landfall in central Louisiana early on October 26 and continued across the Eastern United States and into Ontario, where it dissipated on October 28.

The severity of the storm along its track from Louisiana through Tennessee caught meteorologists by surprise. Intense winds inflicted severe damage, and downed numerous trees onto homes, vehicles, and roadways. In Louisiana, power was cut to 132,000 customers statewide. A peak rainfall accumulation total of was observed near Ponchatoula, with lesser amounts across the state. The remnants of the storm continued into Mississippi, where 772 homes were damaged or lost, 26 businesses impacted, and 27 roads damaged or destroyed; effects were particularly severe in Tupelo. At least 154,000 power outages were reported across the state; in the storm's wake there, a 34-year-old man was killed cleaning tree debris, although this death was not acknowledged by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its Tropical Cyclone Report. In Tennessee, a wide swath of winds up to resulted in nearly 65,000 power outages that forced school closures for up to two weeks in several counties, and a 63-year-old man was killed by a downed tree. Total damage along the path of the cyclone was estimated at $400 million.

Meteorological history

A well-organized tropical wave moved off the western coastline of Africa on October 8. High wind shear across the tropical Atlantic hampered the wave from developing into a tropical cyclone even as it showed intermittent signs of convective organization. The disturbance progressed into the eastern Caribbean Sea on October 17 and reached Central America five days later. After crossing the Yucatán Peninsula into the Bay of Campeche by October 24, the wave spawned a broad area of low pressure. The diffuse circulation became better defined the next morning, when satellite-derived wind data indicated it was already producing gale-force winds. As such, the NHC upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Olga at 12:00 UTC on October 25 when it was about south-southwest of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The system's cloud pattern was characterized by a large cluster of deep thunderstorm activity within the northeastern quadrant. A broad upper-level trough to the west of the newly formed cyclone directed it on a general northeastward course.

Shortly after the time of formation, a reconnaissance aircraft found that a cold front was already impinging on Olga's circulation, while maximum sustained winds had increased to ; slightly stronger winds trailed the frontal boundary. However, since the boundary had not yet moved through the system's circulation, Olga persisted as a tropical cyclone. The final passes conducted by the reconnaissance aircraft a few hours later found strong northwesterly flow and a sharp gradient in temperature and dew point near the center that had either been overtaken by the front or become poorly defined. As such, Olga transitioned into an extratropical cyclone by 00:00 UTC on October 26, with winds of as the earlier measurements behind the front became representative of the overall system. It was positioned roughly south-southeast of Lake Charles at the time. The cyclone continued north-northeast and crossed the southeastern Louisiana coastline around 07:00 UTC. It progressed inland across the Eastern United States, crossed Lake Huron, and finally dissipated over southeastern Ontario by 00:00 UTC on October 28.

Preparations and impact The National Hurricane Center did not issue tropical cyclone warnings and watches along the Gulf Coast of the United States, as they expected Olga to become a post-tropical cyclone prior to landfall. However, local weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service laid in place gale warnings and coastal flood advisories among other hazard messages. Nearly 8 million residents throughout the Southern United States were placed under flash flood watches. In advance of Olga's remnants in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, all floodgates and flood control systems were closed to prevent major flooding. New Orleans lifted parking restrictions on neutral grounds and sidewalks, allowing citizens to move their vehicles to higher ground in advance of the anticipated heavy rainfall. Along the entirety of its path, the remnants of Olga caused approximately $400 million in damage.

Louisiana

Tropical storm-force winds overspread much of southeastern Louisiana, with a maximum statewide gust of in Mandeville. These winds were short in duration as the remnants of Olga moved rapidly north-northeast, but the severity of the storm caught meteorologists and local officials off guard. The New Orleans and Lake Charles branches of the National Weather Service expressed their intention to further study the event in order to better prepare for similar systems in the future. The energy companies Entergy and Cleco reported damage to 260 and 35 power poles, respectively; Entergy reported the most significant damage throughout New Orleans and Hammond. Gusty winds at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport caused two separate electrical disruptions, resulting in the delay or cancellation of multiple flights; citywide, power outages were estimated around 17,000. At the nearby Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, events were delayed to allow recovery from storm damage. A tall LED video wall was blown down and saw its plastic panels shattered. The Jazz Half marathon was also delayed until later in the morning. High winds damaged the perimeter fencing at the site of the Hard Rock Hotel collapse. Statewide, the number of power outages peaked around 132,000 customers, principally in Tangipahoa Parish. About 92,000 of those outages were among Entergy customers while the other 40,000 were associated with Cleco.

The remnants of Olga also produced heavy rainfall, with a peak statewide accumulation of to the east of Ponchatoula. Local amounts of overspread Terrebonne Parish, while more widespread accumulations of were recorded in portions of that parish northeastward into Washington Parish. At the height of the storm, flash flood emergencies were issued for Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. The heavy rainfall brought challenges for sugarcane farmers who had already suffered in the wake of several heavy rainfall events in years past. In spite of this fact, dry soil conditions in the lead-up to Olga's remnants alleviated concerns about river flooding. Only a few rivers reached flood stage and mainly minor flooding was reported across the state. Water levels of above normal in southeastern Louisiana did cause minor coastal flooding there, including across the Mandeville Lakefront along the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Coastal flooding of affected the central Louisiana coastline around high tide. Precipitation associated with Olga contributed to the second wettest year on record at New Orleans International Airport, after 1985.

Mississippi The strongest measured winds in relation to the remnants of Olga throughout the Eastern United States were observed in Mississippi. A storm chaser recorded a peak, hurricane-force wind gust of near Ripley. These strong winds downed countless trees, some up to in diameter, and caused extensive damage to structures and power lines across a swath through Mississippi and into Tennessee. A 34-year-old man was killed on Highway 489 in Newton County when a tree fell on him as he cleaned up tree debris, although this was death was not included in the NHC's final report. Union and Tippah counties each saw twenty roads closed by fallen trees and lines. Four roads were also closed in Pontotoc County, where two tractor trailer trucks were overturned on US 278. Roofing was ripped from houses, siding was torn from manufactured homes, and road signs were toppled. Statewide, 772 homes were lost or damaged, 26 businesses were affected, and 27 roads were damaged or destroyed. At the height of the storm, at least 154,000 power outages were reported.

Disruption to the electrical grid was particularly severe around Tupelo. One of the main power providers, Tombigbee Electric Power Association, estimated over 19,000 residents were without power at one point. Seventeen of the company's nineteen power substations suffered damage. Tupelo Water & Light reported at least 25 power poles were downed. Tupelo mayor Jason Shelton was trapped in his home and subsequently transferred to the hospital for injuries after a tree was downed on his home. The former city automotive museum suffered structural damage when the outer wall of the storage portion of the building collapsed. A fire station and car dealership were also damaged. Farther north, Alcorn County also recorded widespread damage. About 16,000 people were without power at the storm's worst, and 50 residences remained without power even nine days later. A state of emergency was declared, and schools throughout the county for closed for one day. Similar school closures were recorded across Prentiss and Alcorn counties. 4-County Electric Power Association reported more than 700 customers without power, mainly in Choctaw County, while the East Mississippi Electric Power Association documented an additional 500 in Winston County, and Prentiss County noted 700 more. Natchez Trace Electric Power Association, meanwhile, worked to restore power to the WTVA and WLOV-TV transmitters, allowing them to resume broadcasting at full power.

The maximum observed storm surge was above normal tide levels in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The combined effects of storm surge and normal tide rose water levels to above normal along the Mississippi coastline, resulting in minor coastal flooding across Hancock County.

Tennessee