Not recent, and the 2nd year was only 29.4 barely above average, however you can include 77/78 and 78/79 (77/78 also had 2 KUs, one of which mixed with sleet like this year and the other a bomb cyclone like this year).
How can you get a cutter if the trough is far enough east? Also if the flow is fast enough a storm won't be able to amplify enough to cut.
We have had MANY snow events without blocking. 2013/2014 is a great example.
Not sure why it has to be KU or nothing