FrostList

When to Winterize Your RV in Gilroy, CA

ON TRACK154 days until first 28°F freezeDec 12

Aim to winterize your RV in Gilroy by December 2, roughly a week and a half before the median first 28°F freeze of December 12, which one fall in ten shows up by November 24. The early-odds date runs roughly 18 days ahead of the median, so build in that buffer.

OUTLOOK

Typical first first 28°F freeze near Dec 12; local deadline about Dec 2. The live 10-day outlook loads here.

Local freeze dates for Gilroy

ThresholdEarly (1-in-10)MedianLate (9-in-10)
32°F (light freeze)Nov 10Nov 27Dec 18
28°F (hard freeze)Nov 24Dec 12Jan 14
24°F (severe)Dec 8Dec 27Jan 19

NOAA station: Gilroy · 0.5 mi away · 194 ft elevation.

Gilroy draws its numbers from Gilroy, 194 feet up and 0.5 miles away. Its median first-freeze dates are 32°F by Nov 27, 28°F by Dec 12, 24°F by Dec 27. The 28°F freeze has come as early as Nov 24 and as late as Jan 14, a 51-day spread. Spring's last 32°F freeze clears around Feb 24.

In Gilroy, freezing nights (32°F) typically begin around Nov 27 and the first hard freeze (28°F) follows near Dec 12. The 32°F date swings from Nov 10 at its earliest to Dec 18 at its latest, near 38 days. The last spring freeze averages Feb 24 and as late as Apr 4, which sets the safe window for reopening outdoor water and de-winterizing gear. Snow barely registers here; the freeze date, around Feb 24, is the one that matters.

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

Gilroy freezes close to Morgan Hill (Dec 12) and about a week ahead of Watsonville (Dec 26) — a reminder that even nearby towns differ by days. Statewide, California prep dates run Jan 6 through Dec 27, which is why Gilroy gets its own number rather than a California-wide average. The same freeze also decides when to shut down your sprinklers and winterize a boat.

Other winter jobs in Gilroy

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

Sprinklers → Dec 2Frozen pipes → Nov 10Car battery → Dec 12Sump pump → Feb 24Boat → Dec 5Motorcycle → Nov 27

See the full Gilroy 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 Gilroy?
Wait until the last spring freeze has passed, which averages near Feb 24 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 Gilroy, live outlook by Open-Meteo. Sources · Methodology. Last updated: July 11, 2026.