Kim Dunn, left and her sons, Hayden, center and Peter plays with their dog Gordon as he takes flight in the air in front of their home in Crested Butte, Colo.

VAIL, Colo. - The first day of fall feels more like the first day of winter for some of the mountain West, with light snow and chilly temperatures across Colorado and freeze warnings for higher elevations in New Mexico, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

A winter storm watch has been issued Tuesday for Boulder, Colo., and surrounding areas in the Rocky Mountain foothills.

Light snow was reported Monday in Vail and other mountain towns, and more was expected Tuesday. At least 3 inches of snow fell in parts of the foothills west of Denver.

Temperatures in Denver dipped into to the upper 30s overnight, and low 30s in Flagstaff, Ariz.

The cold weather and snow have prompted Colorado's Loveland ski area to turn on its snowmaking machines earlier than planned.

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Information from: KUSA-TV, http://www.9news.com