Based on satellite observations, the Washington VAAC reported that on 7 January steam plumes with minor amounts of ash rose from San Miguel to an altitude of 2.6 km (8,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 130 km SW. Only steam-and-gas plumes were detected later that day.

Geological Summary. The symmetrical cone of San Miguel, one of the most active volcanoes in El Salvador, rises from near sea level to form one of the country's most prominent landmarks. A broad, deep, crater complex that has been frequently modified by eruptions recorded since the early 16th century caps the truncated unvegetated summit, also known locally as Chaparrastique. Flanks eruptions of the basaltic-andesitic volcano have produced many lava flows, including several during the 17th-19th centuries that extended to the N, NE, and SE. The SE-flank flows are the largest and form broad, sparsely vegetated lava fields crossed by highways and a railroad skirting the base of the volcano. Flank vent locations have migrated higher on the edifice during historical time, and the most recent activity has consisted of minor ash eruptions from the summit crater.

Source: Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)