The fifteenth named storm of the 2023 Pacific typhoon season, Bolaven originated on October 6 near the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and moved to the northwest.

Located in an area of warm sea surface temperatures of around 86 °F (30 °C), the weather system experienced favorable conditions for tropical cyclone development, with low wind shear, spiraling rainbands, and outflow in two directions.

[6] Despite the presence of dry air near the center, the storm slowly intensified as the convection deepened, and the outflow was amplified by a tropical upper tropospheric trough to its northeast.

[22] On October 10, Bolaven moved through the Northern Marianas Islands,[14][23] while the archipelago was still recovering from the damaging passage of Typhoon Mawar five months earlier.

[14] The high winds knocked down trees and cut electricity for the islands of Tinian and Rota, while parts of Saipan also lost power.

[14] Over 7 in (180 mm) of rain were reported shortly after the storm passed through, and all citizens were asked to stay off roads due to dangerous conditions caused by the typhoon.

[27] After merging with another extratropical storm in the Gulf of Alaska, the remnants brought rain to parts of southern British Columbia, where Effingham Point, along the Sunshine Coast, recorded 276.4 mm (10.88 in).