The seventh typhoon of the inactive 1998 Pacific typhoon season, Babs formed on October 14 between the Philippines and Guam. The storm moved westward initially, failing to intensify initially due to the outflow from Typhoon Zeb to the northwest. Babs slowed and briefly turned to the south before advancing to the northwest, whereupon it rapidly intensified into a strong typhoon.
The seventh typhoon of the inactive 1998 Pacific typhoon season, Babs formed on October 14 between the Philippines and Guam. Initially moving westward, it was hindered in intensification due to outflow from Typhoon Zeb to the northwest.  Babs then slowed before turning south briefly before shifting northwest where it rapidly intensified into a strong typhoon.