Systems and methods for detecting an operational condition of a tray of a distillation column with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array operatively coupled to an optical signal interrogator. An output of the sensing cable corresponding to at least one sensor location on the optical fiber sensor array is monitored. The output of the sensing cable is classified as one of a predetermined set of classifications including at least a stable condition classification and a unstable condition classification determined based upon the output relative to a predetermined threshold. A signal is generated when the output of the sensing cable is classified as the unstable condition classification.