There's been some significant change in the last 24 hrs. Tracks now have it heading towards Ilan/Hualien border.
Sustained wind speed has jumped to 120kts (220km) with gusts up to 145! (270km). That's super-typhoon strength - bound to cause serious damage.

Strangely, there's no obvious high pressure ridge to the north that's pushing it west & nudging landfall to the south. Appears to be a wrap-around effect from a high-pressure to the east that's engulfing it. I hope Hualien doesn't cop it - they've had enough already.

JTWC says: CURRENT STEERING MECHANISM: DEEP-LAYERED SUBTROPICAL RIDGE (STR)
ENTRENCHED TO THE EAST, WITH A WESTWARD EXTENSION OF THE STR
POSITIONED TO THE NORTH.

Best guide at this stage is CWB's track. They're pretty reliable at 24hrs.
North of the eye is always dangerous in a big one, so Taipei will get serious impact. Looks like it will crank up around 4-5pm.

You can see the high extending to the north of the typhoon - cutting off the pass - it's still a matter of how far it extends.