I think the warnings are accurate if you bother to read and understand them.
I was walking in Yorkshire last week in a 'thunderstorm warning area' I was very lucky to escape with a sunny warm day. As I sat on Almscliffe Crag near Harrogate having my lunch, I watched 3 huge CuNimbs in different directions dispatching their C-G lightning and bearing impressive rain shafts, I could hear the distant booms through the quiet summer air.
When I got to the pub after the walk there was a loud agressive guy at the bar...."f****** Met Office....useless....forecast thunderstorms today and nothing! We pay for these tossers"
I nearly started explaining but went and enjoyed my pint out in the sun which was reflecting on a massive CuNimb over Leeds City
There's a lot of people like the guy at the bar...oh and Richard we had a noteable 2 hr storm in Edinburgh yesterday, probably the 8th this year and flooding has been common in large areas of Scotland and Northern England
Jerry
Edinburgh, in the frost hollow below Blackford Hill