diff --git a/assets/css/header.css b/assets/css/header.css
index 7a1e804..1640a01 100644
--- a/assets/css/header.css
+++ b/assets/css/header.css
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@
 }
 
 .utci-search-toggle[aria-expanded="true"] {
-  color: #fff;
-  background: #c8922a;
+  color: #c8922a;
+  background: #fef3dc;
   border-color: #c8922a;
 }
 
@@ -486,6 +486,38 @@ body.tl-scrubbing * { transition: none !important; }
   left: 0;
   width: 100%;
   z-index: 60;
+  /* "Eyes opening": unfurl from the top edge while fading in, so the drop
+     shadow grows with the box instead of flashing in fully-formed. */
+  transform-origin: center center;
+  animation: utci-search-open 0.26s cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1);
+}
+
+@keyframes utci-search-open {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: scaleY(0.05);
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: scaleY(1);
+  }
+}
+
+/* Reverse the reveal when dismissing — close from the vertical middle and
+   fade out rather than vanishing instantly. */
+.utci-search-overlay.is-closing {
+  animation: utci-search-close 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 1, 1) forwards;
+}
+
+@keyframes utci-search-close {
+  from {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: scaleY(1);
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: scaleY(0.05);
+  }
 }
 
 .utci-search-overlay .utci-search {
diff --git a/assets/js/app.js b/assets/js/app.js
index f466f71..76524a8 100644
--- a/assets/js/app.js
+++ b/assets/js/app.js
@@ -219,6 +219,11 @@ export function UTCIForecast() {
   // Search is hidden by default and revealed via the magnifier next to the
   // location. The input then overlays the location line to save space.
   const [searchOpen, setSearchOpen] = useState(false);
+  // While closing, keep the overlay mounted so it can fade/close out before
+  // unmounting; cleared when the exit animation ends.
+  const [searchClosing, setSearchClosing] = useState(false);
+  const openSearch = () => { setSearchClosing(false); setSearchOpen(true); };
+  const closeSearch = () => { setSearchOpen(false); setSearchClosing(true); };
   const searchWrapRef = useRef(null);
   const [colTogglesOpen, setColTogglesOpen] = useState(false);
   const searchInputRef = useRef(null);
@@ -286,12 +291,11 @@ export function UTCIForecast() {
     if (!searchOpen) return;
     const onDown = (e) => {
       if (searchWrapRef.current && !searchWrapRef.current.contains(e.target)) {
-        setSearchOpen(false);
-        setSearchQuery('');
+        closeSearch();
       }
     };
     const onKey = (e) => {
-      if (e.key === 'Escape') { setSearchOpen(false); setSearchQuery(''); }
+      if (e.key === 'Escape') { closeSearch(); }
     };
     document.addEventListener('mousedown', onDown);
     document.addEventListener('keydown', onKey);
@@ -625,7 +629,7 @@ export function UTCIForecast() {
                   class="utci-loc-name"
                   aria-label="Search for a town or city"
                   aria-expanded=${searchOpen}
-                  onClick=${() => setSearchOpen((v) => !v)}
+                  onClick=${() => (searchOpen ? closeSearch() : openSearch())}
                 >
                   <svg class="utci-loc-pin" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="15" height="15" aria-hidden="true">
                     <path fill="currentColor" d="M12 2c-3.87 0-7 3.13-7 7 0 5.25 7 13 7 13s7-7.75 7-13c0-3.87-3.13-7-7-7z" />
@@ -638,7 +642,7 @@ export function UTCIForecast() {
                   class="utci-search-toggle"
                   aria-label="Search for a town or city"
                   aria-expanded=${searchOpen}
-                  onClick=${() => setSearchOpen((v) => !v)}
+                  onClick=${() => (searchOpen ? closeSearch() : openSearch())}
                 >
                   <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="16" height="16" aria-hidden="true">
                     <circle cx="10.5" cy="10.5" r="6.5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" />
@@ -653,8 +657,16 @@ export function UTCIForecast() {
                 <div class=${'utci-fetch-time' + (isStale ? ' is-stale' : '')}>
                   ${isStale ? html`<span class="stale-dot" title="Data is older than expected - retrying">● </span>` : ''}Last update: ${fetchedAt.toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit' })}
                 </div>`}
-              ${searchOpen && html`
-                <div class="utci-search-wrap utci-search-overlay">
+              ${(searchOpen || searchClosing) && html`
+                <div
+                  class=${'utci-search-wrap utci-search-overlay' + (searchOpen ? '' : ' is-closing')}
+                  onAnimationEnd=${(e) => {
+                    if (e.target === e.currentTarget && !searchOpen) {
+                      setSearchClosing(false);
+                      setSearchQuery('');
+                    }
+                  }}
+                >
                   <input
                     ref=${searchInputRef}
                     class="utci-search"
@@ -679,7 +691,7 @@ export function UTCIForecast() {
                             setSearchQuery('');
                             setSearchResults([]);
                             setSelectedDay(0);
-                            setSearchOpen(false);
+                            closeSearch();
                           }}
                         >
                           <div>${r.name}${r.admin1 ? `, ${r.admin1}` : ''}</div>