Techniques described herein relate to a method for identifying downhole conditions during a drilling operation using a vibratory separator. The method includes calibrating a sensor system attached to the vibratory separator by periodically measuring the G-force acting on the vibratory separator functioning under steady-state operating parameters. The method also includes determining the relationship between the G-force acting on the vibratory separator and the flow rate and rate of penetration (ROP) for the drilling operation by measuring the G-force acting on the vibratory separator functioning under different non-steady-state operating parameters. The method further includes determining an expected total basket weight for each G-force measurement using the G-force/flow rate/ROP relationship, monitoring a current total basket weight of the vibratory separator functioning under current operating parameters, and identifying a downhole condition if the current total basket weight is greater or less than the expected total basket weight for the current operating parameters.