A simple rule is that for high - pressure areas, where generally air flows from the center outward, the coriolis force given by the earth 's rotation to the air circulation is in the opposite direction of earth 's apparent rotation if viewed from above the hemisphere 's pole. So, both the earth and winds around a low - pressure area rotate counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere, and clockwise in the southern. The opposite to these two cases occurs in the case of a high. These results derive from the Coriolis effect; that article explains in detail the physics, and provides an animation of a model to aid understanding.
which direction does air circulate into low pressure zones in the northern and southern hemispheres
counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere, and clockwise in the southern