After crossing Madagascar for 26 hours, Eline emerged into the Mozambique Channel near Belo, still maintaining good outflow. With warm waters and a favorable upper level environment, the depression quickly re-intensified as convection increased. At 12:00 UTC on February 19, Eline re-attained moderate tropical storm status. While in the central Mozambique Channel, Eline passed about 35 km (20 mi) north of Europa Island, which recorded a barometric pressure of . Shortly thereafter, the storm turned more to the west-northwest due to a strengthening ridge to the south. A brief increase in wind shear delayed the strengthening trend, but Eline resumed intensifying on February 21 while slowly approaching southeastern Africa. Over a 24‑hour period, the pressure dropped by , indicative of rapid deepening. During that time, the convection organized into an intense eyewall around a well-defined 60 km (35 mi) eye. Eline had re-attained tropical cyclone status at 12:00 UTC on February 21, and by 18 hours later reached intense tropical cyclone status. The MFR estimated peak 10‑minute winds of 185 km/h (115 mph); in contrast, the JTWC estimated peak 1‑minute winds of 215 km/h (130 mph), the equivalent of a Category 4 tropical cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale (SSHWS). While at peak intensity, Eline made landfall about 80 km (50 mi) south of Beira, Mozambique, where a central pressure of was recorded. Gusts at landfall were estimated at 260 km/h (160 mph).