What prevents the winds from blowing straight from the high-presure center to the-low pressure center?

Question

when they're doing their clockwise and counterclockwise stuff *insert above question yourself*...?

Answer 1

The Coriolis Effect.

Answer 2

In large scale pressure systems,the coriolis force affects the wind direction.In small scale pressure systems,in addition to coriolis force,frictional forces near the land surface(below 2000 feet) due to tall buildings ,small hills,tall trees etc affect the direction and speed of the winds to some extent.