Which term refers to assuming the weather will continue as it is now?

The term that refers to assuming the weather will continue as it is now is "persistence." This concept is often employed in meteorological forecasting strategies, where forecasters project that the current weather conditions will remain unchanged over a short period. For example, if it is currently sunny and clear, a persistence forecast might predict that it will continue to be sunny and clear for the next few hours or days. This approach is particularly useful in situations where weather patterns are stable and the atmosphere is not experiencing significant changes.

In contrast, the other terms do not capture this specific meaning. "Consistency" generally refers to the degree to which weather events or conditions are steady over time but does not imply a projection into the future based on current conditions. "Stability" often relates to the physical state of the atmosphere and whether it is conducive to certain weather phenomena, rather than making a forecast based on present observations. "Immediacy" pertains to the urgency or recency of a situation rather than projecting current weather conditions into the future. Therefore, persistence is the most appropriate term for the described scenario.