Nordväst

Nordväst is the Swedish term for the cardinal direction northwest. It denotes the compass bearing halfway between north and west, corresponding to 315 degrees on a standard 360-degree compass. The word is formed from nord (north) and väst (west) and is used in geography, navigation, and meteorology to describe location, movement, or wind direction.

In meteorology, nordväst is used to describe winds coming from the northwest. A nordvästvind indicates wind direction rather than speed. The northwest quadrant often involves air masses from the Atlantic and can influence weather patterns in Sweden and neighboring regions, typically associated with cooler and wetter conditions in autumn and winter, though local outcomes vary with season and topography.

In maps, travel, and orienteering, nordväst serves as a standard directional label. It is part of the Swedish eight-point compass system, alongside nord, nordost, ost, sydost, syd, sydväst, and väst. The term also appears in weather forecasts, nautical contexts, and aviation communications where concise directional labeling is required.

Etymology is straightforward: nordväst combines nord and väst to express the northwest. In related Scandinavian languages, similar terms exist (for example nordvest in Danish and Norwegian), reflecting the common Germanic roots of the direction.

Nordväst, as a directional concept, thus functions across science, navigation, and daily use to indicate a specific bearing and associated meteorological expectations.