FrostList

When to Winterize Your RV in Bellingham, WA

ON TRACK133 days until first 28°F freezeNov 21

Bellingham's deadline to winterize your RV is November 11: the local first 28°F freeze runs November 21 on average and November 1 at its earliest (1991–2020 normals). Plan for the early end: the one-in-ten date lands about 20 days before the median.

OUTLOOK

Typical first first 28°F freeze near Nov 21; local deadline about Nov 11. The live 10-day outlook loads here.

Local freeze dates for Bellingham

ThresholdEarly (1-in-10)MedianLate (9-in-10)
32°F (light freeze)Oct 15Nov 2Nov 23
28°F (hard freeze)Nov 1Nov 21Dec 16
24°F (severe)Nov 14Dec 9Jan 14

NOAA station: Bellingham 3 Ssw · 2.6 mi away · 15 ft elevation.

For Bellingham, the nearest NOAA station with freeze data is Bellingham 3 Ssw, 2.6 miles out at 15 feet. Median first-freeze dates there run 32°F by Nov 2, 28°F by Nov 21, 24°F by Dec 9. Year to year the 28°F date has ranged from Nov 1 to Dec 16 — about 45 days apart. Spring's last 32°F freeze clears around Apr 1. Snowfall averages 3 inches a year, first reaching an inch near January.

Bellingham usually sees its first 32°F night about Nov 2, with the first 28°F hard freeze close behind near Nov 21. That first freezing night has ranged from Oct 15 to Nov 23, roughly a 39-day spread. On the spring side, the last 32°F freeze clears around Apr 1 and as late as Apr 24 — the green light for reopening water and de-winterizing. Only about 3 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, Bellingham (first freeze Nov 21) runs close to Marysville (Nov 21) and close to Everett (Nov 21). Across Washington, local prep deadlines in our data range from Oct 6 to Dec 1, so a statewide rule of thumb would miss Bellingham by weeks. In Bellingham, that same cold is your cue to shut down your sprinklers and winterize a boat.

Other winter jobs in Bellingham

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

Sprinklers → Nov 11Frozen pipes → Oct 15Ice dams → Dec 16Car battery → Nov 21Snow blower → Dec 25Sump pump → Apr 1Boat → Nov 14Motorcycle → Nov 2

See the full Bellingham 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 Bellingham?
Wait until the last spring freeze has passed, which averages near Apr 1 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 Bellingham 3 Ssw, live outlook by Open-Meteo. Sources · Methodology. Last updated: July 11, 2026.