looking for advice: going west for February and wondering if this would be a bad time to go to yosemite and the other nearby parks. Should we expect a ton of snow? cold temps?
should we wait until April for this trip?

We lucked into some really nice weather in Februray a couple of years back.

http://www.utahtea.lithium.com/yosem...swan_feb03.htm

Your chances of getting snow are greater in February than April. April can go from snow to hot enought to wear shorts on the Mist-Trail. I know, I've done the trail in shorts more than once in April. The waterfalls are at their best in April from the spring run off. If it were me and I had a choice, I'd pick April.

Utahtea

I'm sorry to take a dissenting opinion from Utahtea, who I respect immensely, but I love Yosemite in the snow. If you get a chance to see it, take it! The valley floor gets lots less snow than the passes but a dusting of snow renders the park just glorious! Be sure to drive up towards (if not to) Badger Pass for wonderful views.

While the falls are fullest in April, they are running in February. And the snow and ice that forms on the rock faces of Yosemite Falls overnight are so dramatic when they come crashing down. If you're lucky the outdoor ice rink will be open.

I've been to Yosemite Valley in the Spring and the Fall and it is absolutely gorgeous in both those seasons. I've never been in the Winter, but I've seen pictures and it looks spectacular. I have a good friend who goes every winter because it is her favorite season for Yosemite. Basically, I don't think you can go wrong with Yosemite - unless maybe if you go during the height of the summer season when it is mobbed with people

Yosemite is beautiful in the winter, but you should carry chains in case there is a snow storm. Even if you do not ski, you may want to take the shuttle to the Badger Pass ski area and rent snow shoes to walk around in the forest. If you cross-country ski, you can rent skis and follow the tracks toward Glacier Point--the round trip is too much for one day. For a view of the valley, you can do a 7 mi. round-trip to Dewey Point. Take a lunch and count all day to do it.