A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
First Officer (FO) flying HHOOD2 arrival; VMC until about 7500 feet. ATC gave us descent to 6200 feet and we were in clouds at that point. Received further clearance to descend to 5000 feet. During descent at about 5300 feet [GPWS] 'terrain terrain' announcement sounded. FO reacted with power and pitched up to stop announcement. We told ATC and broke out of clouds. I assume GPWS was a closure rate warning.
An A320 Captain reported receiving a GPWS terrain alert on arrival into PDX in IMC. The pilot flying executed an escape maneuver. The reporter feels it was likely a closure rate alert.