Hot and dry weather returned to the national capital as the maximum temperature shot up to over 40-degree mark on Tuesday.The Capital experienced a spell of pleasant weather due to the rains over the past three days that brought down the mercury at appreciably below normal level. According to the MET department, the maximum temperature was recorded 40.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal while the minimum was recorded 26.2 degree Celsius. The weathermen have predicted that the sky will remain clear for Wednesday and the temperature may increase.