BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - The Yellowstone River here reached a daily record low flow of 6,730 cubic feet per second Wednesday.

The previous low reading for June 2 was 7,140 cfs.

Normally, the Yellowstone would be rising at this time of the year, generally cresting before mid-June.

Officials said this year's crest occurred on May 9 and at less than one-fourth of normal.

Poor snowpack and an early melt resulted in the early peak, which will make it difficult to sustain strong flows during the summer months.

Record low flows were also reported Wednesday on the Milk River at Harlem, the Stillwater at Absarokee, the Boulder at Big Timber, Rock Creek at Red Lodge, the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone at Belfry and Edgar, the Little Bighorn River at Wyola, Lodge Grass Creek at Wyola, the Tongue River at Decker and Ruby Creek at Alder.

Most river gauges in southcentral and southeastern Montana were running at less than 10 percent of their normal volume for this time of year.

AP-WS-06-03-04 0933EDT