2024 began with widespread flooding across the UK, with the River Trent and surrounding communities bearing the brunt of the flood impacts. In this article for Conversation Media, Senior researchers Professor Louise Slater from the University of Oxford and Principles Hydrologist Jamie Hannaford from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology explore whether UK floods are increasing in severity and frequency, based on computer-based models with climate data and historical records. They conclude that flooding along the River Trent is occurring more frequently with 50-year flood events happening on average at less than ten-year intervals. The article calls for preparedness for increasing flood frequency by enhancing research to support monitoring and adaptation to climate change and increasing risk.