freak weather
今回の「万里の長城遭難」は、「（登）山ブーム」に商機を見い出した旅行会社が現地の添乗員とガイドに「丸投げ」した結果ともいえるでしょうが、自然の脅威を改めて思い知らされた悲劇でもありました。
freak は「（近年にない）異常な、いつもと違った」を意味し、このようにsnowstormやweatherなどを形容します。確認程度です。（UG）
Tourists die on Great Wall, freak snowstorm hits Beijing
At least two tourists have died while flights and road travel were disrupted in Beijing this past weekend after a freak snowstorm hit the Chinese capital and surrounding areas.
The deaths of two Japanese tourists occurred in northern Hebei province, local media reported. They had been stranded on an unrestored section of the Great Wall.
The unusually early cold weather arrived ahead of the Chinese Communist Party's 18th National Congress, slated to start November 8.
The municipal government has put some 60,000 cleaners on stand-by to clear snow on the road in order to ensure a smooth opening of the party congress, according to Hong Kong's Ming Pao Daily.
Some 58 millimeters of precipitation were recorded in central Beijing between Saturday and Sunday morning, according to Xinhua. It is the highest recording over a 24-hour period ever for the city between November and March since 1951.
Snowfall is not usually expected in Beijing until the end of November.
