MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Ernesto has left forecasters scratching their heads after it fizzles on its way to South Florida.

As of the 8 p.m. advisory, all hurricane watches for the state of Florida were discontinued as Ernesto failed to strengthen.

Though the forecast was that the storm would reorganize and strengthen over warm water, Ernesto weakened into what National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield called a "mediocre storm." Tuesday afternoon, Mayfield said that Ernesto has left him "baffled."

South Florida could still experience some high winds and heavy rain, but the fear that Ernesto might have become a hurricane or strong tropical storm before making landfall is over.

Don Noe said that unless something changes dramatically, Ernesto will never reach the National Hurricane Center's prediction of 65 mph winds.

Noe said, "Thankfully, the storm does not appear to be as bad we had expected. Some storms could still be nasty tonight, but the weather will improve tomorrow."

At 9 p.m., the government of the Bahamas will discontinue all hurricane watches in the northwestern Bahamas.

A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch remain in effect from New Smyrna Beach southward on the Florida east coast including Lake Okeechobee from Bonita Beach southward on the west coast and for all of the Florida keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Florida west coast from north of Bonita Beach northward to Englewood and a tropical storm watch remains in effect from north of Englewood to Tarpon Springs.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect along the U.S. east coast north of New Smyrna Beach to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.

A hurricane watch was issued for the U.S. east coast north of Altamaha Sound Georgia to Cape Fear, North Carolina.

A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch remain in effect for Andros Island, the Berry Islands, the Biminis and Grand Bahama Island in the northwestern Bahamas.

At 8 p.m., a weakened Ernesto was located 15 miles southeast of Islamorada and 70 miles south of Miami.

Ernesto is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.

An Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft reported a minimum central pressure of 1004 millibars.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of onshore flow within the warning area.

Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches are possible near the track of Ernesto over central and south Florida including the keys through Wednesday with isolated amounts up to 15 inches possible.

Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated amounts up to 6 inches are expected over eastern and central Cuba. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches with isolated amounts of 4 inches are possible over the Bahamas.

Isolated tornadoes are possible over South Florida including the Keys through the night.