diff --git a/pvlib/forecast.py b/pvlib/forecast.py
index e760b18c10..5ccf0286ec 100644
--- a/pvlib/forecast.py
+++ b/pvlib/forecast.py
@@ -376,6 +376,11 @@ def _netcdf2pandas(self, netcdf_data, query_variables, start, end):
             if key not in query_variables:
                 continue
             squeezed = data[:].squeeze()
+
+            # If the data is big endian, swap the byte order to make it
+            # little endian
+            if squeezed.dtype.byteorder == '>':
+                squeezed = squeezed.byteswap().newbyteorder()
             if squeezed.ndim == 1:
                 data_dict[key] = squeezed
             elif squeezed.ndim == 2: