Snapshots from MSNBC's Hurricane Tracker showing the progression of 2008's hurricane Gustav. This is an experimental animation intended to show the changing predictions as the storm progressed.

The final forecast shown can be viewed interactively at:
msnbc.msn.com/id/26295161/?preferredName=Gustav

The interactive map uses animation in a different way, to show the progression of the storm up to and including the last know location, and then to illustrate the forecast path. This animation takes the forecast updates and shows how the predicted positions and intensities changed over the duration of the hurricane.

Media coverage of the hurricane was initially quite detailed because of similarities to hurricane Katrina, but as the storm progressed the predicted intensity dropped a little. It was a big one, but not as big as it could have been - to the obvious relief of people in the predicted path.