This is free too and causes less problems as Google Earth can.
Storm Tracker by MSN.....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26295161
Click the 4 arrow icon next to 'light map' in the bottom box on the left and it goes to full page. You can even go to 'ariel view' and see what Google shows. Plus this is updated more than Google for many places around the world.
Hell, anything with Google in it's name is a problem waiting to happen.