Among the following weather phenomena, which one is associated with the highest wind velocities recorded on Earth?

Introduction / Context:
Different atmospheric phenomena produce different ranges of wind speed. Tropical cyclones such as hurricanes and typhoons are famous for their destructive winds, but there is another type of storm that can generate even higher peak wind velocities over smaller areas. This question asks you to identify which phenomenon is associated with the highest recorded wind speeds.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The listed phenomena are Loo, tornado, typhoon, hurricane and dust storm.
• Loo is a hot, dry wind in northern India, while dust storms involve blowing dust and sand.
• Typhoon and hurricane are regional names for strong tropical cyclones.
• A tornado is a small, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.

Concept / Approach:
Tropical cyclones can produce sustained winds of more than two hundred kilometers per hour and strong gusts, but tornadoes can produce even more extreme winds over very small areas, sometimes exceeding three hundred or even four hundred kilometers per hour in the most intense cases. These peak velocities are higher than those of hurricanes and typhoons. Therefore, when the question asks for the highest wind velocity, the correct focus is on tornadoes.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider the nature of Loo. It is a hot and dry seasonal wind in the Indo Gangetic plain, but its speed is not extreme compared with storms and cyclones.Step 2: Dust storms are associated with strong winds, but their speeds are generally lower than the maximum winds observed in intense storms.Step 3: Typhoons and hurricanes are major tropical cyclones with very strong sustained winds, often above 150 or 200 kilometers per hour.Step 4: Tornadoes, although narrow and short lived, can generate peak wind speeds that exceed those in most tropical cyclones, making them the fastest winds observed near the surface.Step 5: Therefore, the phenomenon with the highest wind velocity is the tornado.

Verification / Alternative check:
Meteorology references and severe weather records consistently show that the strongest tornadoes, classified at the top of intensity scales, reach extremely high wind speeds far above typical hurricane values. While hurricanes are more destructive on a regional scale because of their size, the absolute maximum wind speed in the core of a violent tornado is higher. This distinction between peak local wind and large scale impact helps verify the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Loo is mainly known for its high temperature and dryness, not for exceptional wind speeds. Typhoons and hurricanes, although intense, have lower peak wind speeds than the most violent tornadoes. Dust storms can be dangerous but are not associated with record breaking velocities. Thus, none of these other phenomena match the extreme winds found in tornadoes.

Common Pitfalls:
Because hurricanes and typhoons cause widespread damage and are widely covered in the media, many learners assume they must have the highest winds. They forget that tornadoes, although smaller and less common, can be even more intense on a local scale. Another mistake is to misunderstand the question and think about total damage rather than peak wind speed. To answer correctly, focus purely on the maximum velocity reached by the wind.

Final Answer:
The weather phenomenon associated with the highest wind velocities is the tornado.