We used to come across one of the best powder snow we have ever seen in Tatras, a true “cold smoke” – very light and dry snow with beautiful crystals. What are the conditions that need to occur for such snow to fall?

It is hard to predict. It is easy to say when the snow is going to fall, but it is a lot harder to determine how much will fall. Very often a huge snowfall in the forecast turns out to be very poor, on the other hand I witnessed little snowfalls in the forecasts that turned into great powderdays. Tatras lie in the middle of the continent, so humid air from above the seas does not reach them that often. 

The best situation is when the snowfall occurs during the day, then the skies clear up during the night and the humidity is relatively low. The next morning might be one of the best you will get. Surely in the spring, the aspects will matter, but there are also local differences between the bowls and valleys. Some of them are naturally more humid than others. They also differ in terms of air circulation. You want to search for these where the wind drops from the ridgeline, is not too strong to carry the snow, but sucks the moisture from the snow and ventilates the area.