Patiala, July 13 -- Barely 10 days after reaching Punjab on July 2, bringing much-needed relief from heat and helping narrow Punjab's seasonal rainfall deficit, the southwest monsoon is set to lose momentum with subdued rainfall activity expected over the next six to seven days.

The latest forecast of India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that the active monsoon phase over Punjab was coming to a halt as the monsoon trough shifts towards the Himalayan foothills. As the monsoon axis moves away from the plains, dry westerly winds are expected to dominate much of northwest and central India, driving up temperatures and humidity.

This change in the synoptic weather pattern is expected to suppress rainfall activity over Punjab, Haryana...