Westbound Highway 65 (Main Street) in Albert Lea is closed and detoured at Clark Street because of flooding from recent rainfall, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The detour is onto East Clark Street near downtown Albert Lea. The westbound lanes are closed. Eastbound remains open at this time. The road will be opened as soon as water recedes and it is safe for traffic on the roadway. The Highway 65 lanes were closed on Friday.

MnDOT offers these travels tips when there are flooding conditions:

Expect the unexpected – flash floods can occur anytime, anywhere.

Do not drive around barricades or into flooded areas.

Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles and pick-ups.

When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. If travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will also apply.

Follow MnDOT on Twitter in southeastern Minnesota at www.twitter.com/mndotsoutheast for updates.

For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.