Northeastwards means towards the northeast — the same idea as northeastward. You mostly hear it after a verb: they walked northeastwards; the front is moving northeastwards.

Northeastwards意思是 means towards the northeast朝東北方向 — the same idea as northeastward概念跟northeastward一樣。You mostly hear it after a verb你多半會聽到它接在動詞後面：they walked northeastwards他們往東北走去；the front is moving northeastwards鋒面正往東北移動。

British English likes the extra s (like towards, afterwards, forwards). American English usually drops it and says northeastward. The meaning does not change.

British English英式英文 likes the extra s喜歡多加那個s (like towards, afterwards, forwards就像towards、afterwards、forwards那樣)。American English美式英文 usually drops it and says northeastward通常會去掉它，說northeastward。The meaning意思 does not change不會改變。

Though actually, when the word sits in front of a noun, even British writers often prefer the form without s: a northeastward path, not usually a northeastwards path. So the -s form is especially the “which way are we going?” word. You can still just say northeast in everyday talk.

Though actually不過其實，when the word sits in front of a noun當這個詞放在名詞前面時，even British writers就連英式作者 often prefer the form without s也常常偏好不加s的形式：a northeastward path會說a northeastward path，not usually a northeastwards path通常不會說a northeastwards path。So所以，the -s form那個加s的形式 is especially the “which way are we going?” word特別是用來問「我們要往哪個方向走？」的字。You can still still可以 just say northeast in everyday talk日常對話裡直接說northeast就好。