Which weather event involves a rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground?

The weather event that involves a rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground is a tornado. Tornadoes typically form from severe thunderstorms, particularly supercell thunderstorms, when there are conditions conducive to rotation in the atmosphere. The formation involves a process called "tilting," where wind shear—differences in wind speed and direction at various altitudes—can cause the updrafts within the storm to rotate. When this rotation extends down to the surface, it manifests as a tornado.

In contrast, while hurricanes are large tropical storms characterized by a low-pressure center and strong winds, they do not have the same concentrated and vertical columnar structure typical of a tornado. Thunderstorms are general weather phenomena that can produce tornadoes, but they themselves are not specifically defined by the rotation extending to the ground. Blizzards are winter weather events primarily characterized by heavy snowfall and strong winds; they have no rotation or direct connection to thunderstorm activity. Thus, the defining characteristic of a tornado as a rotating column of air fundamentally distinguishes it from the other options.