Definition
A compass direction lying halfway between north (360°) and west (270°), corresponding to a bearing of approximately 315°.
Plain English
The direction that sits exactly between north and west on a compass — roughly 315 degrees.
Context Anchor
Seen on charts, weather reports, NOTAMs, airport descriptions, and route instructions when a direction or location is being described.
Why Pilots Care
Direction abbreviations appear constantly in weather briefings, runway alignments, wind reports, and navigation logs. Reading 'NW' instantly as 315° keeps situational awareness sharp.
Intuition Check
NW does not always mean “go northwest.” It can mean “located northwest,” “moving northwest,” or “coming from the northwest,” depending on the surrounding words.
Example Sentence 1
The winds aloft forecast showed a steady flow from the NW at 25 knots.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot selected a northwest heading to remain clear of the restricted area.