Abstract
The study compares changes in annual maximum (AM) discharge occurrence at 33 gauging stations in Slovenia for the period 1961-2023. The entire period was divided into two sub-periods, namely the period 1961-1990 and the period 1991-2023. The frequency of AM occurrence per day of the year was calculated for all stations under consideration, and the kernel density estimate was calculated for the two periods. The findings reveal that, except for one gauging station, the AM discharge has occurred later during the recent three decades (1991-2023) than during the first 30-year period (1961-1990). The shift ranged from one to 35 days. This shift could be mainly attributed to higher air temperatures in the spring and summer months, which intensify precipitation events. At four stations, the day of maximum density shifted from spring to autumn and, at one station, from autumn to spring. All of these stations are located in the eastern part of the country. In contrast, gauging stations in Alpine regions of the western part of the country show smaller shifts, attributed to reduced snow accumulation and earlier snowmelt.