Abstract
<jats:p>Torrential floods rank as Serbia’s most destructive and frequent natural hazards, inflicting profound social, economic, and environmental impact. This study delivers a comprehensive analysis of torrential flood phenomenon, covering the period 1915–2024, integrating historical records with contemporary data from multiple sources. A total of 2287 flood events have been documented, claiming over 197 lives. The findings highlight a distinct seasonal trend, with floods peaking in late spring (May–June), primarily driven by intense convective storms. The highest number of events was recorded in tributaries belonging of the Zapadna Morava, Južna Morava, and Kolubara river basins. A breakthrough of this research is the development of Serbia’s first inventory of torrential floods, offering unprecedented insights into their spatial and temporal dynamics. This inventory can be integrated into a multi user national hazard database, with future applications extending to European-scale flood risk assessments. By enhancing hazard preparedness and risk mitigation strategies, this study paves the way for data driven policies and climate resilience planning crucial in an era of escalating extreme weather events.</jats:p>