FrostList

When to Winterize Your RV in Valley Stream, NY

ON TRACK138 days until first 28°F freezeNov 26

In a typical year, winterize your RV in Valley Stream by November 16. The median first 28°F hard freeze at Valley Stream's NOAA station is November 26 (1991–2020 normals); one year in ten it arrives as early as November 10. The early-odds date runs roughly 16 days ahead of the median, so build in that buffer.

OUTLOOK

Typical first first 28°F freeze near Nov 26; local deadline about Nov 16. The live 10-day outlook loads here.

Local freeze dates for Valley Stream

ThresholdEarly (1-in-10)MedianLate (9-in-10)
32°F (light freeze)Nov 2Nov 14Dec 1
28°F (hard freeze)Nov 10Nov 26Dec 13
24°F (severe)Nov 19Dec 7Dec 29

NOAA station: New York Jfk Intl AP · 3.3 mi away · 11 ft elevation.

Valley Stream draws its numbers from New York Jfk Intl AP, 11 feet up and 3.3 miles away. Its median first-freeze dates are 32°F by Nov 14, 28°F by Nov 26, 24°F by Dec 7. Year to year the 28°F date has ranged from Nov 10 to Dec 13 — about 33 days apart. Spring's last 32°F freeze clears around Apr 2. Snowfall averages 26 inches a year, first reaching an inch near December.

The freeze arrives in two steps in Valley Stream: 32°F around Nov 14, then a hard 28°F near Nov 26. The 32°F date swings from Nov 2 at its earliest to Dec 1 at its latest, near 29 days. The last spring freeze averages Apr 2 and as late as Apr 13, which sets the safe window for reopening outdoor water and de-winterizing gear. About 26 inches of snow a year is enough to justify servicing the snow blower and watching the eaves.

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

Against its neighbors, Valley Stream (first freeze Nov 26) runs close to Hempstead (Nov 25) and later than Freeport (Nov 21). Across New York, local prep deadlines in our data range from Oct 16 to Nov 21, so a statewide rule of thumb would miss Valley Stream by weeks. In Valley Stream, that same cold is your cue to shut down your sprinklers and winterize a boat.

Other winter jobs in Valley Stream

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

Sprinklers → Nov 16Frozen pipes → Nov 2Ice dams → Nov 15Car battery → Nov 26Snow blower → Nov 24Sump pump → Apr 2Boat → Nov 19Motorcycle → Nov 14

See the full Valley Stream 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 Valley Stream?
Wait until the last spring freeze has passed, which averages near Apr 2 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 New York Jfk Intl AP, live outlook by Open-Meteo. Sources · Methodology. Last updated: July 11, 2026.