FrostList

When to Winterize Your RV in Montgomery, AL

ON TRACK137 days until first 28°F freezeNov 25

Aim to winterize your RV in Montgomery by November 15, roughly a week and a half before the median first 28°F freeze of November 25, which one fall in ten shows up by November 8. Cold deepens quickly here — only about 12 days separate the first frost from that hard freeze.

OUTLOOK

Typical first first 28°F freeze near Nov 25; local deadline about Nov 15. The live 10-day outlook loads here.

Local freeze dates for Montgomery

ThresholdEarly (1-in-10)MedianLate (9-in-10)
32°F (light freeze)Oct 31Nov 13Dec 1
28°F (hard freeze)Nov 8Nov 25Dec 24
24°F (severe)Nov 17Dec 14Jan 16

NOAA station: Montgomery AP · 7.8 mi away · 202 ft elevation.

Montgomery draws its numbers from Montgomery AP, 202 feet up and 7.8 miles away. Its median first-freeze dates are 32°F by Nov 13, 28°F by Nov 25, 24°F by Dec 14. That hard freeze has landed anywhere from Nov 8 to Dec 24, a swing of roughly 46 days. Spring's last 32°F freeze clears around Mar 13. Snowfall averages 0 inches a year.

The freeze arrives in two steps in Montgomery: 32°F around Nov 13, then a hard 28°F near Nov 25. That first freezing night has ranged from Oct 31 to Dec 1, roughly a 31-day spread. On the spring side, the last 32°F freeze clears around Mar 13 and as late as Mar 31 — the green light for reopening water and de-winterizing. With almost no snow in a normal year, cold — not plowing — sets the calendar, and it centers on Mar 13.

Your rv checklist

  1. Drain the fresh, gray, and black tanks, then drain the water heater only after it has cooled and lost pressure.
  2. Bypass the water heater so you do not waste six gallons of antifreeze filling the tank.
  3. Blow out the lines with a compressor at about 30–40 psi, then pump non-toxic RV antifreeze through every faucet until it runs pink.
    Helpful gear: RV antifreeze (6-pack) — Recommended pick
  4. Use a water-pump converter kit to draw antifreeze straight from the jug through the plumbing.
    Helpful gear: Water pump converter kit — Recommended pick
  5. Pour a cup of antifreeze into each drain trap and the toilet to protect the seals.
  6. Fit a blow-out plug at the city-water inlet so you can clear that line too.
    Helpful gear: Blow-out plug — Recommended pick
  7. Remove batteries or put them on a maintainer, and store them off a cold concrete floor.
  8. Cover roof vents, close the propane, and set out traps or deterrents so mice do not move in.

What to have on hand

RV antifreeze (6-pack)
Non-toxic pink fluid for the fresh-water plumbing and traps.
Recommended pick
Water pump converter kit
Siphon kit that draws antifreeze straight through the pump.
Recommended pick
Blow-out plug
Adapter that lets a compressor clear the lines before antifreeze.
Recommended pick
Heated fresh-water hose
For anyone staying hooked up through a cold snap.
Recommended pick

What this means locally

Compared with nearby cities, Montgomery's first-freeze date near Nov 25 sits about a week ahead of Auburn (Dec 1) and about a week ahead of Phenix City (Dec 12). Alabama's deadlines span Nov 4 to Dec 20 statewide — one date for all of Alabama would be off by weeks for Montgomery. Once you know Montgomery's freeze date, use it to shut down your sprinklers and winterize a boat too.

Other winter jobs in Montgomery

Every task below is dated to Montgomery's own freeze and snow normals.

Sprinklers → Nov 15Frozen pipes → Oct 31Car battery → Nov 25Sump pump → Mar 13Boat → Nov 18Motorcycle → Nov 13

See the full Montgomery winter checklist, in order →

Frequently asked questions

At what temperature do RV pipes freeze?
An RV's exposed plumbing and thin-walled tanks can begin to freeze once temperatures sit in the mid-20s for a few hours, sooner than a house because there is little insulation around the lines. That is why the winterizing deadline tracks the first 28°F freeze rather than the first light frost.
How much RV antifreeze do I need?
Most travel trailers and motorhomes take about two to three gallons of non-toxic RV antifreeze, and larger rigs more. Bypassing the water heater saves roughly six gallons you would otherwise waste filling the tank. Buy an extra jug; stores sell out once the first freeze warnings hit.
Can I just use my RV furnace instead of winterizing?
Relying on the furnace is risky. A propane run-out, a tripped breaker, or a dead battery during a cold night leaves the plumbing unprotected, and the furnace may not keep the underbelly and bays warm enough anyway. Draining and adding antifreeze is the dependable way to protect the system.
How do I winterize an RV water heater?
Let the tank cool and lose pressure, then drain it and, if fitted, pull the anode rod. Do not add antifreeze to the water heater tank; instead, set the bypass valves so antifreeze skips the tank and fills only the lines. Fresh antifreeze in an unbypassed heater just wastes several gallons.
When is it safe to de-winterize an RV in Montgomery?
Wait until the last spring freeze has passed, which averages near Mar 13 here. De-winterize by flushing the antifreeze from the lines, sanitizing the fresh tank, and checking for leaks before a trip. Reopening too early risks a surprise late freeze on a charged system.
Do I need to winterize an RV stored indoors?
A reliably heated indoor space that stays above freezing protects the plumbing, so full winterizing may not be needed. But an unheated garage or barn can still drop below freezing on a cold night. If you cannot guarantee the space stays warm, winterize to be safe.

Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals via Montgomery AP, live outlook by Open-Meteo. Sources · Methodology. Last updated: July 11, 2026.