The exceptionally mild spell of late 1979 began on the 26th of November 1979 as tropical maritime air behind a warm front pushed NEwards across the UK.

Maxima were into the teens and as high 16C at Finningley on the 26th. the flow became even milder on the 27th and 28th behind another warm front and 17.0C was recorded at Ruthin in north Wales on the 28th.  Dust falls and coloured rain occurred on the 28th showing the source of the air was from north Africa.

The exceptionally mild spell continued into December with maxima into the teens as tropical maritime air was constantly pum[ped across the UK. The 5th of December was an excpetionally mild day with 17.2C recorded at Hampton and 17.0C at Wincanton

The following day was another record breaking mild day as 16.4C was recorded at Guersney and 16.0C at Harltand Point, north Devon. The break in the exceptional mild spell came on the 10th as polar maritime air dominated much of the rest of December 1979 as it became much colder.

26th November-9th December

CET mean: 10.1 
CET average max: 12.8
CET average min: 7.3

Manchester Airport maxima
November
26th: 15C
27th: 12C
28th: 14C
29th: 14C
30th: 14C

December
1st: 13C
2nd: 14C
3rd: 11C
4th: 13C
5th: 12C
6th: 12C
7th: 13C
8th: 11C
9th: 12C

Heathrow Airport maxima

November
26th: 15C
27th: 15C
28th: 13C
29th: 12C
30th: 14C

December
1st: 12C
2nd: 14C
3rd: 14C
4th: 13C
5th: 16C
6th: 15C
7th: 14C
8th: 12C
9th: 14C