Winter in the Sierra is cold and wet, with over 70 percent of the year’s precipitation falling between November and March, usually as snow. The first snows of autumn are usually light and melt within a few hours or days, but by mid-November, the ground is generally cold enough for snow to accumulate, particularly at elevations above Yosemite Valley (4,000 feet). At higher elevations, snow may fall as early as September or October. The snowpack increases during winter and reaches maximum depth in mid-March. Typically, snow coverage is consistent at elevations above 6,000 feet. Snow depths can be up to dozens of feet at higher elevations. Some snow usually falls in April, and sometimes in May. Spring.