Yes the tower calls out surface winds. With differences in wind direction, sometimes 90-120 degrees, and a smooth ride from 1,500 ft agl all the way to touchdown, you sometimes wonder about the accuracy.
We have airports that due to terrain are not allowed to use certain runways at night. This sometimes leaves us having to land with tailwinds. As PNF I have had the time to keep an eye on the vector. I have seen predominantly headwinds until close to the runway, when it disappears, only to see the windsock showing indeed a clear tailwind, and all this with a stable smooth ride all the way. My experience is that on approach it doesn't always give accurate info, not that it really matters at all in that phase of flight. Again this doesn't happen always, but it has surprised me how far off it can be sometimes, hence the comment.
rcl