Severe Weather and the February 2026 Bar Exam: What You Need to Know
Posted February 23, 2026 | Executive Bar Review
-Time Sensitive-
If you’re scheduled to sit for the February 2026 California Bar Examination – beginning this Tuesday, February 24th and you’re caught in the path of the severe storms please read below:
Will the Exam Be Postponed?
Almost certainly not.
The State Bar of California has not announced any postponement or modification to the February 2026 exam schedule, and based on everything we know, one is not coming. The exam is proceeding as planned at in-person test sites across California on Tuesday, February 24th and Wednesday, February 25th.
For historical context, the California Bar Examination has only been postponed in the most extraordinary of circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the California Supreme Court, which holds ultimate authority over the State Bar – ordered the July 2020 exam delayed first to September, and then ultimately to October 5-6, 2020. That decision came after statewide public health orders effectively prohibited large indoor gatherings entirely. Even then, the process took months of deliberation, input from law school deans, students, trustees, and bar examiners, and a formal ruling from the state’s highest court. A regional weather event, as serious as it is, does not rise to that level.
The authority to postpone the bar exam rests with the California Supreme Court, not the State Bar of California itself. Absent a formal order from the Court, the exam proceeds and there is currently no indication that any such order is forthcoming.
Can I Get a Refund or Postpone My Application?
This depends on your situation, and the options are limited at this point.
The standard withdrawal deadline was February 10, and the window for refunds under the regular policy has already passed. However, there are a couple of things worth knowing.
Check the State Bar’s official Refund of Fees Policy at calbar.ca.gov. The State Bar does maintain a policy that applies in limited circumstances. Notably, in January 2026 the State Bar adopted a special full-refund policy for applicants blocked by federal travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998. No similar weather-related accommodation has been announced as of this writing.
If you cannot make it to the exam, you can still formally withdraw. Withdrawing rather than simply not appearing matters. Applicants who are absent for any exam session are considered as not having taken the exam, their answers will not be graded, and they will be treated the same as any non-sitting applicant.
Contact the State Bar directly, now. If severe weather has made your travel genuinely impossible, reach out through your Applicant Portal immediately. Document everything: canceled flights, road closures, weather advisories. The State Bar may not be able to help, but creating a clear record puts you in the best position if any emergency accommodations are announced later.
If I Can Get There, Should I Still Try?
Yes, if you can safely travel, do it. Show up.
If you arrive late due to weather, be aware that applicants who arrive one hour or more after an exam session begins will not be allowed to take that session. Arrive as early as you possibly can. The State Bar recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before your start time; on a day with potential weather disruptions, earlier is better.
Also remember you must bring your printed Admittance Ticket and a valid, non-expired government-issued photo ID in physical form. Digital IDs are not accepted. If you’re scrambling because of travel chaos, don’t let those two items get lost in the shuffle.
What We Recommend Right Now
Monitor the State Bar’s website closely. Visit calbar.ca.gov and the February 2026 Bar Exam notices page repeatedly. Any emergency accommodation will appear there first.
Log into your Applicant Portal. All official State Bar communications come through the portal. Check it now and again tomorrow morning before the exam begins.
Contact the State Bar directly. Use the messaging function in your Applicant Portal to document your situation. Be factual. Include documentation of travel disruptions – canceled flight confirmations, weather advisories, road closure notices.
Exhaust every travel option. If flights are canceled, is there a rental car? A train? A rideshare? It sounds extreme, but if you’ve studied this hard, it’s worth considering every path before giving up.
Do not just no-show. If you cannot make it, formally withdraw and document your circumstances. A record of your situation is your best asset if any accommodation is announced after the fact.
FAQ
Q: Will the February 2026 California Bar Exam be postponed due to severe weather?
A: Almost certainly not. The State Bar has not announced any postponement. The authority to postpone rests with the California Supreme Court, not the State Bar itself. The exam was only postponed once in recent memory – during COVID-19 in 2020 – and that required a formal Supreme Court order after statewide laws prohibited large indoor gatherings. A regional weather event does not rise to that level.
Q: Can I get a refund if severe weather prevents me from reaching the exam?
A: The standard refund window closed on February 10. Refunds are no longer available for standard late withdrawals. The State Bar adopted a special full-refund policy in January 2026 for applicants blocked by federal travel restrictions, so it has shown it can act in exceptional circumstances – but no weather-related policy has been announced. Monitor your Applicant Portal and calbar.ca.gov, and contact the Office of Admissions to document your situation.
Q: What happens if I simply don’t show up?
A: Do not no-show. Applicants who are absent for any exam session are considered as not having taken the exam, their answers will not be graded, and they are treated the same as any non-sitting applicant. Formally withdraw through your Applicant Portal and document your circumstances.
Q: Has the California Bar Exam ever been postponed due to an emergency before?
A: Yes, but only in extraordinary circumstances. COVID-19 in 2020 led to a postponement from July to October, requiring a formal California Supreme Court order. Historically, accommodations were also granted after the 1906 earthquake and during World War II. A regional storm does not rise to those precedents.
Q: If I can still travel safely, should I try to make it?
A: Yes. Applicants who arrive one hour or more after an exam session begins will not be admitted. Arrive as early as possible. Bring your printed Admittance Ticket and a valid, non-expired, physical government-issued photo ID. Digital IDs are not accepted.
Q: Is it unfair that the bar exam won’t be postponed for weather?
A: It feels that way, and that feeling is valid – especially for applicants with job offers pending their results. But admission to the practice of law is not a constitutional right. The system exists to protect the public, and the rules around it don’t bend easily, even for sympathetic circumstances. That doesn’t mean the system is always fair, but it does mean there is no simple path to accommodation here.
Q: What should I do right now if weather is affecting my travel?
A: Monitor calbar.ca.gov for emergency announcements. Log into your Applicant Portal. Contact the Office of Admissions to document your situation with evidence of travel disruptions. Exhaust every travel alternative. Formally withdraw rather than no-show if you cannot make it. Get rest tonight.
Q: If I miss the February 2026 exam, when can I retake it?
A: The next California Bar Examination is scheduled for July 28-29, 2026. Standard application timelines and fees apply. Visit the State Bar’s Dates and Deadlines page at calbar.ca.gov for current filing deadlines.
For official State Bar information, visit https://calbar.ca.gov or contact the Office of Admissions through your Applicant Portal.
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