FrostList

When to Winterize Your RV in Durham, NC

ON TRACK128 days until first 28°F freezeNov 16

In a typical year, winterize your RV in Durham by November 6. The median first 28°F hard freeze at Durham's NOAA station is November 16 (1991–2020 normals); one year in ten it arrives as early as November 2. 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 16; local deadline about Nov 6. The live 10-day outlook loads here.

Local freeze dates for Durham

ThresholdEarly (1-in-10)MedianLate (9-in-10)
32°F (light freeze)Oct 24Nov 4Nov 19
28°F (hard freeze)Nov 2Nov 16Dec 7
24°F (severe)Nov 12Dec 1Jan 1

NOAA station: Durham · 4.9 mi away · 400 ft elevation.

Numbers for Durham come from Durham, 4.9 miles away at 400 feet, where the medians fall 32°F by Nov 4, 28°F by Nov 16, 24°F by Dec 1. Year to year the 28°F date has ranged from Nov 2 to Dec 7 — about 35 days apart. Spring's last 32°F freeze clears around Apr 2. Snowfall averages 5 inches a year, first reaching an inch near January.

In Durham, freezing nights (32°F) typically begin around Nov 4 and the first hard freeze (28°F) follows near Nov 16. That first freezing night has ranged from Oct 24 to Nov 19, roughly a 26-day spread. On the spring side, the last 32°F freeze clears around Apr 2 and as late as Apr 18 — the green light for reopening water and de-winterizing. Only about 5 inches of snow falls in a typical year, so cold protection outranks snow removal.

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, Durham (first freeze Nov 16) runs close to Chapel Hill (Nov 14) and about a week ahead of Cary (Nov 23). Across North Carolina, local prep deadlines in our data range from Oct 31 to Nov 23, so a statewide rule of thumb would miss Durham by weeks. In Durham, that same cold is your cue to shut down your sprinklers and winterize a boat.

Other winter jobs in Durham

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

Sprinklers → Nov 6Frozen pipes → Oct 24Ice dams → Dec 16Car battery → Nov 16Snow blower → Dec 25Sump pump → Apr 2Boat → Nov 9Motorcycle → Nov 4

See the full Durham 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 Durham?
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 Durham, live outlook by Open-Meteo. Sources · Methodology. Last updated: July 11, 2026.