KEY WEST, Florida Keys – Visitors are returning to the Florida after a mandatory visitor evacuation was discontinued Wednesday following Tropical Storm Ernesto's uneventful passage over the island chain.

The center of Ernesto passed over the Upper Keys at late Tuesday night as a weak tropical storm, with 45 mph sustained winds, according to National Hurricane Center forecaster James Franklin.

Following initial assessments Wednesday morning, there was no significant damage from Tropical Storm Ernesto, said Irene Toner, Monroe County’s director of emergency management.

"We're just glad we could swat away 'Ernesto el Pesto' so easily and get things 'back to abnormal' — that's the way we like it," said Heather Carruthers, chair of the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys & Key West.

All utilities are operating normally. The Overseas Highway (U.S. 1) is clear with no flooding, according to Monroe County Sheriff Rick Roth.

Key West International Airport and Florida Keys Marathon Airport have reopened and full commercial flight service has resumed to and from Key West.

All state, county and federal parks are open.

All hotels, attractions and other visitor facilities throughout the Keys have returned to full operational status.

“We did not have any damage in Key West at all,” said Key West City Manager Julio Avael. “Our hotels are open and the city’s tourism industry is welcoming visitors"

For more information on the Florida Keys, call the Keys visitors bureau, toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, at 1-800-FLA-KEYS. Or examine this Web site.