rapidly decreased after landfall, the storm maintained a well-defined structure as it crossed from Mozambique into Zimbabwe late on February 22. Weakening to tropical depression status, Eline crossed Zimbabwe and maintained its circulation, entering Botswana on February 24. Three days later, the center drifted into eastern Namibia and turned to the south, dissipating on February 29. After the circulation dissipated, the residual system merged with a heat low and an approaching cold front. Records and statistics Throughout its duration, Leon-Eline lasted 29 days, a record longevity for a storm in the southern Indian Ocean. The track was over 11,000 km (6,800 mi), or about 25% of the Earth's circumference. However, Eline was in the south-west Indian Ocean for 21 days, which is the third most on record. It was behind Cyclone Alibera in 1989 and Cyclone Georgette in 1968, the latter of which lasted 24 days in the basin. The MFR noted that Eline was the strongest cyclone to strike the nation in several decades. The storm was uncommon in its landfall on mainland Africa; only 5% of storms in the basin do so, and most that cross or form in the Mozambique Channel turn to the south. Eline was unusual in maintaining its identity so far inland, aided by increased moisture and enhanced upper-level environmental conditions over southern Africa. Preparations and impact Early in its duration while it was still in the Australian basin, the cyclone produced high waves near Christmas Island, forcing a boat of about 500 refugees to be escorted to port. Later, Eline brought wind gusts of to St. Brandon. On Mauritius, the cyclone produced wind gusts of , along with heavy rainfall that peaked at at Sans Souci. This rainfall was about 70% of the average February precipitation total. After Eline began restrengthening and turned more to the southwest, officials on Réunion declared a red alert, but this was dropped when the cyclone passed the island. Ultimately, the storm brushed the island with gusts of along the coast, and in the mountainous peak of Maïdo. Rainfall was heaviest in the mountainous peaks, reaching at Bébourg. Significant wave heights remained below . Madagascar Cyclone Eline struck while Madagascar was in the midst of a cholera epidemic that had killed over 1,000 people. When the storm moved ashore in eastern Madagascar, Eline produced strong winds along its path, with gusts estimated at by MFR at landfall. However,