New Delhi, May 19 (IANS): Delhi and the National Capital Region experienced light rain and dust storms on Tuesday afternoon.

The light rain and dust storms provided relief to the residents, reeling under the sweltering heat, by bringing down the maximum temperature by 1.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

Consequently, the weather turned pleasant in the evening.

On Monday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 43 degrees Celsius while it settled at 41.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, an official of the India Meteorological Department said.

However, the Met Office has forecast clear skies and sunny weather on Wednesday.

"The sky will remain clear on Wednesday. The maximum and minimum temperatures will hover around 42 and 27 degrees Celsius respectively," a Met official said.

The day began on a sunny note but it started turning cloudy by afternoon. Dust storms then swept the national capital and the adjoining districts of Ghaziabad, Noida and Gurgaon. Light rain followed later.

The dusty gusts of strong wind and shower slowed and dislocated traffic in various areas of the city.

"I was headed towards Safdarjang and all of a sudden a drizzle started with an accompanying dust storm. Though it lasted for a short while, it was enough to result in a traffic jam," Vishwas Gupta, who was riding a two-wheeler and was stranded near Maharani Bag, told IANS.

The day's minimum temperature was recorded at 28.5 degrees Celsius -- two notches above the season's average.

The humidity at 5.30 p.m. was 42 percent.

Monday's maximum temperature settled four notches above the season's average at 43 degrees Celsius while the minimum was recorded at 28.1 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season's average.