Canada is preparing for what is being called a "historic and extreme event" due to Hurricane Fiona.

 As Hurricane Fiona approaches Canada's Atlantic Coast, hundreds of thousands of Canadians are without power.

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Torrential rain and winds of up to 148 km/h are being experienced in parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick (92 mph).

Fiona, according to the Canadian Hurricane Centre, may be a "historic, extreme storm," with power outages and flooding.

When Fiona ripped through the Caribbean, at least eight people died.

"It'll be a tough one," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday. "We encourage everyone to stay safe and follow the directions of local authorities for the next 24 hours."

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick, as well as sections of Quebec.

The eastern section of the country might receive up to 10in (25cm) of rain, raising the risk of flash flooding.

Shelters were set up in Halifax and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, enabling residents to take shelter ahead of the storm.

"We've had these kinds of incidents previously, but not to this level," said Amanda McDougall, mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

"The consequences will be significant, real, and immediate."

Severe hurricanes are uncommon in Canada because storms lose intensity once they reach colder waters in the north and turn post-tropical. However, as Hurricane Fiona approaches, pressure in the region is expected to be historically low, paving the path for a stronger storm.

Hurricane Juan, a category two hurricane that killed two people and severely destroyed structures and vegetation in 2003, was the last tropical cyclone to hit Nova Scotia.

On Friday afternoon, Meteorologist Bob Robichaud said that Fiona will be larger than Juan and stronger than Hurricane Dorian, which also hit the coast of Nova Scotia in 2019.

"It will undoubtedly be a historic, extreme occurrence for Atlantic Canada."

Heavy rain and gusts pounded Bermuda early Friday, forcing schools and businesses to close as the hurricane moved north.

Fiona wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic earlier last week, leaving many without power or running water.

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Up to four people have been killed in Puerto Rico, including a sick four-month-old newborn whose mother was unable to travel to the hospital due to blocked roadways. On the French island of Guadeloupe, a death was also reported.

A separate tropical cyclone emerged in the Caribbean Sea, posing a hurricane threat to Florida.

According to the US National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression Nine is in its early stages and is moving on a path that might bring it to Florida as Hurricane Hermine next week.

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