Hurricane Fiona is forecast to strike eastern Canada as a powerful hurricane force post-tropical storm beginning tonight, with officials in Nova Scotia telling residents they "should be preparing today and bracing for impact."

Why it matters: After lashing Bermuda, Fiona may be one of the most intense storms ever to hit Atlantic Canada when it roars ashore Saturday. It could even set a national intensity record based on its minimum air pressure.

Threat level: The storm is likely to bring widespread damaging winds to Canada, specifically in the region between Halifax and Newfoundland.

What they're saying: "Fiona is projected to be a significant and historic weather event for Nova Scotia," John Lohr, Nova Scotia's emergency management minister, said in an update on the storm Thursday.

A government forecast from Friday morning said the "storm will be a severe event for Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec."

By the numbers: Fiona is expected to hit eastern Nova Scotia with maximum sustained winds up to around 56 miles per hour (90 km per hour) with gusts up 74 mph (120 km/h) and bring between roughly 4 inches to 6 inches (100 to 150 millimeters) of rainfall with higher local amounts possible.

The big picture: Fiona hammered Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic earlier this week, leaving millions of people on the islands without power and causing at least five deaths.