which one's better and why ?

[greycellz]

1. Analysts blamed May’s sluggish retail sales on unexciting merchandise as well as the weather, colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture.

(A) colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed

(B) which was colder and wetter than usual in some regions, slowing

(C) since it was colder and wetter than usually in some regions, which slowed

(D) being colder and wetter than usually in some regions, slowing

(E) having been colder and wetter than was usual in some regions and slowed

[Azzkikr6969]

This is one of the questions from the Official Guide. B is the best answer. It is concise and idiomatic, and "which" has a clear referent, "the weather"

[anil_mirza]

Not much clear to me. Do we really require "Which" after weather? Is B better than A due to the use of only "Which"? or "than usual" is better than "than was usual"? To me, "than was usual" doesn't seem wrong.
Shed some light please.
Thanks
Anil

[comp_bos]

"as well as the weather,colder and wetter "
Here the underlying portion is trying to refer to "weather". Lets see how choices stack up against it.

Use of second "which" in A & C is wrong. which needs to be closer to its antecedent "weather"
D.) Being anyway is not preferred.
E.) Awkward and wordy. Dint even looked at its construction.

hence is the best answer