Table 2.
Timeline of events up to 22 January 2020 according to PHIVOLCS bulletins and cross-referenced with other sources
| Date | Time | Alert level | Event description | Ashfall areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 2020 | 1:00p.m. | 1 | Increased steaming activities observed in five places in the main crater with the most active part exhibiting a phreatic explosion with a 100-m-high plume | |
| 2:00p.m. | 1 | Booming sounds were heard in Talisay, Batangas | ||
| 2:04p.m. | 1 | Increase in activity within the MCL and produced a 1-km-high eruption column | Ashfall observed in the southwestern portion of TVI | |
| 2:30p.m. | 2 | Alert level to 2 | ||
| 4:00p.m. | 3 | Alert level to 3 | ||
| 5:30p.m. | 3 | Activity intensified with sustained eruption generating a steam-laden tephra column 10–15 km high | Wet ashfall fell to the north and reaching as far as Quezon City | |
| 7:30p.m. | 4 | Alert level to 4 | Ashfall was observed in several places | |
| 13 Jan 2020 | 2:49a.m. | 4 | Magmatic eruption with lava fountaining observed | |
| 3:20a.m. | 4 | PHIVOLCS bulletin update of areas affected by ashfall | ||
| 4:28a.m. | 4 | Lava fountaining ceased. Eruption quickly resumed with weak sporadic fountaining and hydrovolcanic activity within the main crater persisted with 2-km-high steam-laden plume | ||
| 4:00p.m. | 4 | Newly formed lateral vents were discovered in the northern flank of the main crater island where 500-m lava fountains emanated | Heavy ashfall to the southwest, experienced mainly in Cuenca, Lemery, and Taal, Batangas | |
| 14 Jan 2020 | 8:00a.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 24 h has been defined by sustained eruption in the main crater due to hydrovolcanic and magmatic activity | Heavy ashfall from the ongoing eruption has fallen in Lemery, Talisay, Taal, and Cuenca, Batangas |
| 1:00p.m. | 4 | Activity produced a 800-m-high dark gray steam-laden plume | Plume drifted southwest from the main crater | |
| 15 Jan 2020 | 8:00a.m. | 4 | The sustained eruption produced a 1-km-high dark gray steam-laden plum. | Ash dispersed southwest of the main crater |
| 5:00p.m. | 4 | The continuous eruption produced a 700-m-high dark gray steam-laden plume. “Drying-up” of portions of the Pansipit River has been reported. Acquired satellite images also show water from the MCL has disappeared and new vent craters have developed in the north flank of the volcano | Plumes drifted southwest from the main crater | |
| 16 Jan 2020 | 6:17a.m. | 4 | Eruptive activity produced a 500-m-high dark gray ash plume | Ash dispersed west–southwest from the main crater |
| 6:21a.m. | 4 | Eruptive activity produced a 800-m-high dark gray ash plume | Ash dispersed west–southwest from the main crater | |
| 8:00a.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 24 h has diminished to weak emissions of steam-laden plumes 700m high | Ash dispersed southwest from the main crater | |
| 5:00p.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 8 h has been defined by weak emission of steam-laden plumes 800m high. Nine distinct weak explosions were recorded | Plumes drifted southwest from the main crater | |
| 17 Jan 2020 | 8:00a.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 24 h was defined by consistent steam emissions and irregular explosions that produced dark gray ash plumes 100–800m high | Ash dispersed west–southwest from the main crater |
| 5:00p.m. | 4 | Activity since 8:00a.m. was distinguished by weak emissions of steam-laden plumes 800m high. Five distinct weak explosions were recorded | Plume drifted southwest from the main crater | |
| 18 Jan 2020 | 8:00a.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 24 h was defined by consistent steam emissions and irregular explosions that produced white to dirty white ash plumes 50–600m high | Ash dispersed southwest from the main crater |
| 6:00p.m. | 4 | Activity since 8:00a.m. was distinguished by a weak emission of steam-laden plumes 500–800m high. Two distinct weak explosions were recorded | Plume drifted southwest from the main crater | |
| 19 Jan 2020 | 8:00a.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 24 h was defined by consistent steam emissions and irregular explosions that produced white to dirty white ash plumes 500–1000m | Ash dispersed southwest from the main crater |
| 6:00p.m. | 4 | Activity since 8:00a.m. was distinguished by a weak emission of steam-laden plumes 300–500m high | Plume drifted southwest from the main crater | |
| 20 Jan 2020 | 8:00a.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 24 h was defined by consistent steam emissions and irregular explosions that produced ash plumes 500–1000m high | Ash dispersed southwest from the main crater |
| 21 Jan 2020 | 8:00a.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 24 h was defined by weak emissions of white steam-laden plumes 500–600m high | Ash dispersed southwest from the main crater |
| 22 Jan 2020 | 8:00a.m. | 4 | Activity within the last 24 h was defined by weak emissions of white steam-laden plumes 50–500m high | Ash dispersed southwest from the main crater |
| 4:00p.m. | 4 | Since 5:00a.m., no ash emissions were observed based on visual observations and seismic records. However, unconsolidated ash in Taal was remobilized by strong-low level winds, and based on reports by multiples airlines, reached approximately 5800m. | Remobilized unconsolidated ash drifted southwest affecting Lemery and Agoncillo |
Elevations are above mean sea level. *Abridged