There are quite a few big passes up in the Sierra Nevada. About one per day for a week or two. They are the highest points on the trail and are usually both preceded and succeeded by snow. Yes, there's a drought in California and yes, it's a low snow year, but we're up here pretty early in the season. There may not be a ton, buts it's here and it's changed the feeling of the hike tremendously.
One of the biggest changes the snow brings is navigating. Previously, the trail was easy to follow. Nowadays, not so much.
Cheers,
Jonathan